CertusBank in Greenville, S.C., continues to lose money, largely because of high expenses. The $1.6 billion-asset company lost $9 million in the first quarter, according to a call report filed with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

Confusion over regulatory jurisdiction and burdensome compliance costs are cutting into community banks' profits and forcing them to consolidate. But it doesn't have to be this way.

Sterling Bancorp (STL) in Montebello, N.Y., said that its fiscal second-quarter profit rose 58% after it expanded through its merger with Provident New York Bancorp.

M&T Bank (MTB) and federal law enforcement officials have begun a fraud investigation into a former loan officer at the Buffalo, N.Y., bank.

MB Financial's acquisition of Taylor Capital is facing a potential delay as regulators examine Cole Taylor Bank for a possible violation of a section of the Federal Trade Commission Act.

Four nonbank lenders have agreed to reimburse consumers and pay penalties in connection with medical loans that violated New York usury and other laws, state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said Wednesday.

BOK Financial (BOKF) in Tulsa, Okla., reported lower net income as mortgage activity declined.

Banks issued at least $12.3 billion in subordinated debt last year, far more than what they issued in any year since the financial crisis. A big factor is investor demand, which has been stimulated by a need for higher-yielding holdings.

United Bankshares' (UBSI) earnings increased during the first quarter, with support from the completion of its Virginia Commerce Bancorp acquisition and sale of one of its own branches.

EverBank Financial (EVER) in Jacksonville, Fla., said that first-quarter earnings fell 18% from a year earlier, to $32 million. Earnings per share of 23 cents beat the average estimate of analysts polled by Bloomberg by 2 cents.

A bipartisan coalition of lawmakers is pushing the Obama administration to nominate someone with community banking experience to the Federal Reserve Board.

In a highly unusual initiative, small community bank Independence Bancshares has been building a real-time transactions processing system. CEO Gordon Baird hopes to attract others to use it, too.

State Bank Financial (STBZ) in Atlanta swung to a profit in the first quarter, as it benefited from improved figures on its covered-loan portfolio.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. claims that reports of the impending death of community banks are greatly exaggerated. Historical data tells a different story.

New York Community Bancorp (NYCB) in Westbury reported lower quarterly earnings as mortgage-related income plummeted.

Banks looking to build productive, lean-staffed branches should ensure that their work culture rewards positive employee attitudes.

First Financial Bancorp (FFBC) in Cincinnati has agreed to buy Guernsey Bancorp in Worthington, Ohio.

The company had been looking for a deal for a few years and finally found one in OmniAmerican, a former credit union that converted to a stock-owned company in 2010.

John Poelker, who recently met with key investors, is using YouTube to appeal to clients who might have been spooked by executive ousters and reports of widespread financial excess at the Greenville, S.C., company.

BBVA Compass has leased space in the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce building for a loan production office.