First Federal Bank of Wisconsin in Waukesha and Bay View Federal Savings and Loan Association are merging.

Middleburg Bank in Virginia has agreed to sell its 62% stake in the mortgage banking firm Southern Trust Mortgage to two Virginia banks and Southern Trust's president.

Four Oaks Fincorp (FOFN) in Four Oaks, N.C., could raise more than $27 million in a securities agreement and rights offering.

For mortgage lenders, "subprime" can sound like a dirty word, especially after the financial crisis. But now some mortgage companies, in search of new business, are starting to loosen their credit standards again. As some banks and nonbank lenders, including Wells Fargo and Carrington Mortgage, offer mortgages to less creditworthy borrowers, are the subprime mortgage floodgates about to open wide?

United Community Banks (UCBI) in Blairsville, Ga., said it expects to report earnings of $14 million to $15 million for the first quarter.

PacWest Bancorp's pending purchase of CapitalSource has been pushed back as the deal awaits approval from the Federal Reserve Board.

Ameris Bancorp (ABCB) in Moultrie, Ga., has repurchased all the shares it issued under the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Bay Banks of Virginia in Kilmarnock is adjusting its 2013 financial results after unloading a troubled asset.

Kansas City's UMB Bank has rolled out an in-house tech support program to help get its less-tech-savvy customers comfortable with digital channels. It also hopes the initiative will help it boost retention rates and perhaps even capture a larger share of the customer's wallet.

A recent survey shows that two-third of mutual savings banks have considered mergers and that 40% give it even odds that they will participate in consolidation in the next five years.

Ratings for the opening weekend of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament rose 8% from a year earlier. Several financial firms benefited from the visibility of having their names on venues that hosted games.

Washington Federal (WAFD) in Seattle has shifted a number of executive titles and responsibilities.

Lakeland Financial in Warsaw, Ind., has appointed Lisa O'Neill as its new chief financial officer. She joins the $3.2 billion-asset company from First Manitowoc Bancorp in Manitowoc, Wis., where she has served as CFO since 2007.

Let's stop talking about what we don't like and start having more productive discussions on how elected representatives, regulators, consumer groups and industry leaders can work together to foster innovation in the short-term credit market that leads to better products for the nation's consumers.

Simmons First (SFNC) in Pine Bluff, Ark., has agreed to buy Delta Trust & Banking in Little Rock, Ark.

First Financial Bancorp (FFBC) in Cincinnati has promoted Brad Ringwald to president of corporate banking. Ringwald joined First Financial in 2006 and has been the president of its specialty finance group since the unit was established three years ago.

Solera National Bancorp (SLRK) is being challenged by a former director who wants to wrest control of the Lakewood, Colo., company's board.

Xenith Bankshares (XBXS) had been eager to enter the bustling Hampton Roads area. It plans to use Colonial Virginia, located close to the region, to make a beachhead.

Central Pacific Financial (CPF) in Honolulu will repurchase $125 million of common stock.

FFW Corp. in Wabash, Ind., has a $2.6 million loan chargeoff recovery.