The Senate Banking Committee dug into the details Tuesday of how to ensure that community banks retain access to a reformed housing finance system as agreement over a broad approach began to emerge.

Court referee Nancy Perez recommended that the Florida Supreme Court revoke David J. Stern's law license and order him to pay roughly $50,000 to cover the Florida Bar's legal costs, according to a report filed Oct. 30.

Quarterly profit rose 36% at BofI Holdings (BOFI) in San Diego, as the online bank's loan growth led to higher interest income.

Independence Bank in Newport Beach, Calif., has agreed to buy Premier Service Bank (PSBK) in Riverside.

Home Bancorp (HBCP) in Lafayette, La., has agreed to pay $34.5 million in cash for Britton & Koontz Capital (BKBK) in Natchez, Miss.

The $1 billion-asset company is looking to sell its branch in Ponte Vedra Beach for $3.5 million, the Jacksonville Business Journal reported Monday.

Activist investors continue to stir up community banking and M&A. ISS advised Hampden Bancorp shareholders to support an investor group that wants to push the thrift to sell itself, but Egan-Jones says the new CEO deserves more time.

The Treasury Department plans to auction seven more lenders' Troubled Asset Relief Program shares, with a total face value of about $90 million.

When it comes to saving, today's young Americans see themselves as more ant than grasshopper. That's the conclusion of a new survey from America Saves, a nonprofit that asked more than 1,000 Americans about their personal saving goals.

Consumer lending in September fell to its lowest point since early in the year, according to the latest American Banker Index of Banking Activity. Commercial lending provided a minor bright spot, but credit quality may be buckling amid intense competition.

National Bank Holdings Corp. (NBHC) in Greenwood Village, Colo., has bought back about $100 million worth of shares from an institutional investor.

Banesco USA in Coral Gables, Fla., reportedly received a $10 million investment from its shareholders during the third quarter.

Territorial Savings Bank in Honolulu plans to shed its federal charter and become a state-chartered savings bank.

Taylor Capital Group (TAYC) in Chicago is buying back its outstanding Troubled Asset Relief Program shares as it waits to close its sale to MB Financial (MBFI).

The fireworks over a Pew Charitable Trusts report on lump-sum payday loans continued Friday as Pew challenged criticisms of its survey methodology.

Half of banking and other business leaders expect a stronger economy, and 44% expect a stronger M&A market, in the next 12 months, according to a new survey. Regulation remains a concern, but dealmakers are largely ignoring the lingering problems in Washington, observers say.

A group of National Football League players has sued BB&T (BBT) for nearly $60 million over alleged negligence by BankAtlantic, which BB&T acquired last year.

The head of the state bank supervisors' group said he sees a quiet push to "reform our regulatory structure to better reflect the business models of our largest banks."

Royal Bank of Scotland has accelerated its plans to sell its U.S. subsidiary. The company will conduct a partial initial public offering of its Citizens Financial Group unit in the second half of 2014, and plans to fully divest itself through offerings in 2015 and 2016.

HomeStreet (HMST) in Seattle is expanding its mortgage business in California.