Community Trust Bancorp (CTBI) in Pikeville, Ky., said Wednesday that its second-quarter earnings climbed 2% from the same period last year, to $12.2 million, due to improved loan quality and lower overhead.

Vantage Bancorp in San Antonio has agreed to buy Medina Bankshares in D'Hanis, Texas.

A community group opposes Banc of California's plans to buy 20 branches, saying management isn't being open about plans to serve low-income and minority customers. The bank says it’s all a misunderstanding. Still, the issue shows why banks must foster good relations with powerful advocacy groups.

Community Bancshares in McArthur, Ohio, has agreed to buy Citizens Bank of Asheville in Ohio.

A group led by Michael Quagliano, Solera's biggest shareholder, successfully took over the company's board last month, possibly ending a lengthy proxy battle.

First Republic Bank (FRC) in San Francisco reported higher earnings for the second quarter, as strong revenue growth helped offset a rise in compliance costs.

Boston Private Financial Holdings (BPFH) has agreed to buy Banyan Partners, an investment advisory firm in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Even activities permitted under the Volcker Rule may not be worth the legal and compliance costs for small and midsize banks, according to three attorneys at Bass, Berry & Sims.

PNC Financial Services Group Inc., the second-largest U.S. regional bank, reported a profit that beat analysts' estimates as expenses declined and the company set aside less money to cover soured loans.

Smaller banks are disproportionately affected by regulation, forcing some to consider selling or to rethink their strategy, two community bankers argued before Congress.

Farmers & Merchants Bank (FMBM) in Timberville, Va., plans a preferred stock offering to raise $9.5 million.

First Commonwealth Financial Corp. (FCF) in Indiana, Pa., has launched a new residential mortgage banking division.

WASHINGTON — A new analysis by the American Action Forum examines the cumulative costs and paperwork burdens of the Dodd-Frank Act roughly four years after the financial reform law's passage.

The industry is slowly turning to valuations based on earnings rather than tangible book value, raising concerns that banks might feel pressure to make short-term decisions and ill-fated acquisitions.

The Virginia and West Virginia bankers associations have intensified merger discussions and could combine into a single trade group by year's end, according to a report Tuesday from Richmond BizSense.

Westamerica Bancorporation (WABC) in San Rafael, Calif., reported another decline in quarterly profits as low interest rates continued to reduce yields on loans and investment securities.

The Fed Chair tells lawmakers she's "very positive on the idea of having a community banker appointed to the Board," but against requiring it by legislation.

Washington Federal (WAFD) in Seattle reported increased quarterly earnings after buying dozens of branches from Bank of America (BAC).

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has proposed tailoring its system for pricing banks' insurance premiums to correspond with new Basel capital requirements.

Independent Bank in McKinney, Texas, is planning to raise capital by issuing debt.