Consumer compliance was already an important issue for regulators who vet bank deals, but it is expected to move up on their priority list after Wells' phony-account saga. Banks that seek M&A approvals should make sure their cross-sale and incentives policies — along with those of their targets — are bulletproof.

The former chairman of the failed Premier Bank in Wilmette, Ill., was sentenced to five years in prison after he pleaded guilty to defrauding the Treasury Department's Troubled Asset Relief Program.

If modified, the cybersecurity standards in New York State are a step in the right direction to protect banks and consumers.

Disintermediation is so five years ago, according to Cross River Bank in New Jersey. It just raised $28 million from Silicon Valley. Now, it wants to enhance its compliance system so it can partner with "riskier" fintech startups and, effectively, enable the industry's so-called disruptors.

Cathay General Bancorp in Los Angeles has agreed to a community reinvestment plan tied to its deal to buy SinoPac Bancorp from Bank SinoPac in Taiwan.

BNC Bancorp in High Point, N.C., has rebranded its banking unit to reflect its expansion beyond the Tarheel State. The $7.5 billion-asset company said in a press release Tuesday that Bank of North Carolina is now BNC Bank.

Low-income urban youth methodically saved money when taught about goal-setting and given access to savings accounts and other basic banking tools.

While big banks have grown more comfortable lending to casinos based on reservations, financial firms have been slower to embrace other Native American enterprises.

OptimumBank Holdings in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has appointed a former Florida credit union CEO, John H. Clifford, to its board.

A small New Jersey bank that is a so-called rent-a-charter partner of more than a dozen marketplace lenders has raised millions of dollars from some household names in the venture capital world.

As more departments reach for a piece of the technology budget, banks need to improve coordination to make sure the money is spent efficiently.

Marva Smalls has gotten comfortable with being uncomfortable throughout her career, and she advises others to do the same, particularly aspiring leaders.

Sun Bancorp’s third-quarter profit declined, as the Mount Laurel, N.J., recorded almost $3 million of one-time gains a year ago. Sun’s expenses, however, continued to improve.

Heartland Financial in Dubuque, Iowa, has agreed to buy Founders Bancorp in San Luis Obispo, Calif.

One of the hottest bank technologies is already repeating mistakes of decades past and showing just how far banks have to go to catch up with the times. Here is one easy way to make this emerging tech more appealing to today's customers.

As banks grow and their business models become more complex, some find that adding a general counsel to the staff makes sense. Bank SNB in Stillwater, Okla., says hiring one allowed it to reduce its legal fees by 80%. Here are the pros and cons.

The Bancorp's stock fell nearly 15% Friday after the Wilmington, Del., company reported a large quarterly loss tied to a bad commercial real estate loan.

The $11.2 billion-asset Banc of California said in a press release Friday that it sold the division the $4.4 billion-asset Hanmi. The companies did not disclose the price.

Back in the black and looking increasingly healthy for the first time in a decade, First Mariner is poised to accelerate growth next year.

The $381 million-asset company said its bank was no longer under a consent order with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions.