Metro Bancorp, once an aspiring acquirer, is fielding complaints from a trio of investment firms that believe management is incapable of meaningfully improving the company's performance.

Midtier banks desperate for earnings growth will have to wait until interest rates rise, a report from Fitch Ratings says.

Westfield Bank is planning to expand its commercial lending presence in western Massachusetts.

Insurance executive Kenneth Shapiro on the new parallels between insurance and banking.

BancorpSouth (BXS) in Tupelo, Miss., has named a new president as part of a broader redesign of its management structure by Chief Executive Dan Rollins.

Simmons First National (SFNC) in Pine Bluff, Ark., must sell one branch as part of its acquisition of Delta Trust & Banking in Little Rock, Ark.

A growing number of community banks are adopting bank-owned life insurance as a way to counter shrinking loan margins and diminished returns on other investments. BOLI can also help banks that are trying to meet higher capital requirements.

Opus Bank (OPB) in Irvine, Calif., is turning its health care banking into a national operation.

City National Bank in Los Angeles has agreed to sell its retirement services business to OneAmerica, an insurance and asset management firm.

First Citizens BancShares (FCNCA) in Raleigh, N.C., has decided on the management team that will run the company after it buys First Citizens Bancorp. in Columbia, S.C.

Spencer Savings Bank in Elmwood Park, N.J., has agreed to buy the banking operations of New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance.

State Bank Financial is in no rush to extract costs from Georgia-Carolina Bancshares, preferring instead to take its time in an effort to retain the best employees and clients.

People's United Bank in Bridgeport, Conn., expects to raise $400 million through an offering of subordinated debt.

The American Bankers Association and AARP are planning to work together to protect older adults from financial exploitation.

Peapack-Gladstone Financial (PGC) in Bedminster, N.J., has named Kevin Runyon as executive vice president of information technology.

Opus Bank (OPB) in Irvine, Calif., has launched a small-business banking division.

Green Bancorp in Houston has filed to raise $100 million by going public. The company said in its filing that it plans to use $8 million of the IPO's net proceeds to partially pay for its pending $46 million acquisition of SP Bancorp in Plano, Texas.

State Bank Financial (STBZ) in Atlanta has agreed to buy Georgia-Carolina Bancshares (GECR) in Augusta, Ga. The $2.6 billion-asset State Bank will pay about $82 million, or $22.35 a share, in cash and stock.

Umpqua Holdings (UMPQ) in Portland, Ore., will close 27 branches by the end of this year as part of its integration of Sterling Financial in Spokane, Wash.

First Community Bank in Lexington, S.C., has agreed to acquire First South Bank's deposits in Columbia and some loans for approximately $800,000.