The rising generation of young Americans not only have little loyalty to banks, according to a three-year survey of 10,000 people born between 1981 and 2000 — many also believe that traditional financial institutions are on their way to irrelevance.

Record profits at agriculture-focused rural banks could be coming to an end. Farm revenue is expected to decline sharply this year, and ag lenders are watching warily to see if this is a one-year blip or the start of a downturn.

A spike in consolidation is expected to provide growth-minded banks with more opportunities to lure executives and commercial lenders.

OTC Markets Group, an operator of financial marketplaces for 10,000 U.S. and global securities, is preparing to launch a public trading marketplace for community and regional banks, according to a company release.

Royal Financial (RYFL) in Chicago has received permission from the Federal Reserve to withdraw an April 2010 board resolution that banned the company from paying dividends, increasing debt or redeeming stock without regulatory approval.

First Bancshares (FBMS) in Hattiesburg, Miss., has agreed to buy BCB Holding in Mobile, Ala.

Scott Tomlinson at Flint Community Bank used a meeting with the agency's deputy director to speak his mind on the shortcomings of mortgage regulation.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. is suing four former officers and directors of a failed Baltimore bank for more than $7.4 million in damages.

Unity Bank, a subsidiary of Unity Bancorp Inc. (UNTY) has opened a new division that will offer a wide range of investment products and services aimed at helping customers to grow and preserve wealth.

Business Partners, a credit union service organization in Northridge, Calif., has named financial services veteran Pamella Easley as its president and chief executive officer.

Try and expense hot chocolate or facial tissue for employees at Prosperity Bancshares, and Chief Financial Officer David Holloway is likely to give you an earful, his boss warns.

How do you top a guest speaker like all-everything quarterback Joe Montana at your banking conference? Bring in his former 49er teammate Jerry Rice, the ICBA decided.

The $21 billion-asset Webster has become the official bank of Yale University athletics, it announced last week. The three-year agreement will give Webster advertising and promotional opportunities at Yale sporting events and venues.

By assessing internal needs, planning how to deal with the external pressures and weighing the value of a good risk chief, banks can make an informed decision on who guides their risk management program.

The subsidiaries of the $4.4 billion-asset company will be merged into Simmons First National Bank by August 2014, according to a Wednesday filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Bank of the Ozarks (OZRK) on Wednesday finalized the cash acquisition of Bancshares in Houston, as well as its wholly-owned subsidiary Omnibank, for $21.5 million.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau managers are far more likely to rate white employees highly than minorities, data obtained by American Banker shows. The figures reflect broad personnel problems inside the agency and are likely to give rise to claims that it's failing to uphold standards it punishes others for violating.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's employee ratings show the same sorts of racial patterns that it has castigated bankers for permitting in the loan market. American Banker staffers discuss what may be behind the numbers and what they may mean for bankers and policymakers.

Riverview Community Bank in Vancouver, Wash., has promoted Daniel Cox to executive vice president and chief credit officer.

Predictions vary widely on how hard it will be for foreign banks to comply with a new capital rule from the Federal Reserve. Many will have to sell branches or loans, or they may just need to shuffle some legal paperwork, depending on whom you speak with.