Hancock Holding (HBHC) in Gulfport, Miss., has agreed to sell its property and casualty and group benefits lines of business to AssuredPartners in Lake Mary, Fla.

First Federal and Bay View are combining similar sized institutions that have complementary infrastructure, earnings and products. Though small, the deal could serve as a model for mutuals interested in keeping their charter and culture.

Ten auto repossession companies will stop claiming vehicles on behalf of title-loan companies under agreements with New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta has appointed Bank of Georgetown Chairman Michael Fitzgerald to its board of directors.

Coconut Grove Bank in Miami has appointed Donald Putnam chief lending officer.

This "product" is weakened in the customers' mind when interacting with a living, breathing banker inevitably involves fending off sales pitches.

NewBridge Bancorp (NBBC) in Greensboro, N.C., has completed its redemption of preferred stock tied to the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

QCR Holdings (QCRH) in Moline, Ill., has redeemed more preferred stock it issued to the Treasury Department under the Small Business Lending Fund.

Bankwell Financial Group (BWFG) in New Canaan, Conn., has agreed to buy Quinnipiac Bank & Trust in Hamden, Conn.

Peoples Financial Services in Scranton, Pa., will begin trading on the Nasdaq on April 2.

The president and chief executive of Town & Country Bank and Trust in Bardstown, Ky., is reportedly stepping down.

The Federal Home Loan banks' Office of Finance said members are borrowing more, yet net income for the system fell from the previous year.

Aquesta Bank (AQFH) in Cornelius, N.C., has formed a holding company.

The Small Business Administration is changing some of its lending rules to expand access to its two main programs.

Diebold is partnering with the $5.5 billion-asset Suncoast CU to test an ATM that reuses consumer-deposited cash for future withdrawals. Tampa, Fla.-based Suncoast is the first financial institution in the U.S. to test the technology.

Community banks are considering issuing their own credit cards as a way to protect their customer relationships and bring in fee income.

Small banks' increased compliance costs could lead to fewer relationship managers, streamlined service models and increased costs of credit. As such, many small business and middle-market customers may simply choose to take their business elsewhere.

Farmers National (FMNB) in Canfield, Ohio, has finally reached a separation agreement with a chief executive it ousted six months earlier.

To make the process fairer to small banks, regulators should issue community bank summaries during the proposal stage, not when releasing final rules. They also should do more outreach to small banks and extend comment periods on major rules, writes the ABA's Hugh Carney.

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