VersaBank in London, Ontario, agreed nearly two years ago to buy a small Minnesota bank. The buyer's CEO says he remains hopeful approval will come soon.

Each spring during the rush of annual meetings, a handful of financial institutions take heat from shareholders who demand new strategies, management shakeups and, at times, even a sale of the company.

First National has agreed to buy Touchstone Bankshares. The combined company would have more than $500 million each of deposits and loans.

Lower commodity prices and decreases in government assistance are expected to push farm income lower this year and raise credit risk for banks.

The Justice Department and the CFPB are increasingly relying on emails among employees that contain discriminatory comments to strengthen their hand in cases against lenders.

Harborstone Credit Union in suburban Lakewood, Washington, plans to buy Savi Financial. That's seven deals in less than three months this year; the highest full-year total was 16 in 2022.

At an American Bankers Association event, Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., who's up for reelection this year, said that he hopes the Durbin-Marshall credit card bill won't go anywhere and criticized the Federal Reserve's debit interchange proposal.

Investing in Main Street Act has passed the House three times with overwhelming majorities but has failed to gain traction in the Senate. Backers, including banks that invest in the funds, hope to flip the script with a third version.

Bank mergers and acquisitions have slowed in recent years amid recession fears and other economic uncertainties. But bank consolidation is a century-old trend that's expected to rev up again as early as this year due to higher costs, tougher regulation and fierce competition.

Peapack-Gladstone's wealth unit is pursuing an ambitious de novo expansion in New York and perhaps elsewhere because M&A has become expensive as private equity money has inflated seller expectations.

The new team at Dime Community Bancshares intends to attract funding from an array of niche business segments, including medical billing, so-called death care services and hedge funds.

Sound Credit Union said it would acquire Washington Business Bank in a cash deal slated to close in the fourth quarter.

Data as of Dec. 31, 2023. Dollars in thousands.

Data as of Dec. 31, 2023. Dollars in thousands.

An advocate for the credit union industry pushes back against "tired" and "recycled" criticism from bankers.

Orlando-based Cogent Bancorp's Brandon Ghee, a former NFL player, has launched a business line focused on providing banking services to professional athletes and the growing number of college standouts earning six- and seven-figure incomes.

Berkshire Hills Bancorp declined to detail the savings it expects from the downsizing, though one analyst estimated it could shave $3 million from the company's annual noninterest expenses.

Critics argue the Federal Home Loan Bank System earned record profits last year and should provide a public benefit commensurate with the perks to members.

Ryan Bailey's responsibilities include refreshing Cambridge Savings Bank's digital-only brand Ivy Bank. The institution believes his prior stint at USAA has prepared him for the challenge.