Pulaski Financial (PULB) in St. Louis said Monday that it had discovered a fraud scheme by a commercial borrower that wiped out the profit for its latest quarter and nearly a third of its annual profit.

Baylake Corp. (BYLK) in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., has agreed to buy a branch from Community Bank & Trust in Sheboygan, Wis.

Saehan Bancorp (SAEB) shareholders have more time to decide on how they get paid in the buyout by Los Angeles rival Wilshire Bancorp (WIBC).

Banks, whose reputations took tremendous hits in recent years over the treatment of military customers, have unveiled another round of programs to help service members and veterans as the nation celebrates Veterans Day.

Capital Bank Financial (CBF) in Coral Gables, Fla., has hired a former Huntington (HBAN) executive for its top technology job.

Jacksonville Bancorp (JAXB) in Florida reported its third consecutive quarterly profit as lowered its expenses and its loan-loss provision.

Berkshire Bancorp (BERK) in New York plans to delist from the Nasdaq and deregister its common stock.

New technologies, strict employee training, cost control and a little psychology are some of the things small-business lenders have tried to counter falling demand and bargain shopping.

The smallest community banks are largely exempt from many new regulations, but their CEOs are still facing mounting compliance burdens and heightened concerns over competition with credit unions. American Banker Community Editor Paul Davis reports from his recent meeting with leaders of small banks.

The Treasury Department is taking a roughly 45% discount its latest auction of Troubled Asset Relief Program shares.

First Mariner Bancorp (FMAR) in Baltimore recorded a large third-quarter loss after its mortgage revenue fell by more than 80% from a year earlier.

StoneCastle Financial in New York launched its $110 million initial public offering Thursday.

Banc of California's (BANC) president has resigned after the Irvine company reported a large quarterly loss and dive in its capital ratios.

Hampton Roads Bankshares (HMPR) in Virginia Beach, Va., made big gains in the third quarter because of lower costs tied to foreclosed properties and repossessed assets.

Peapack-Gladstone Financial (PGC) in Bedminster, N.J., has launched a $42 million rights offering.

Eastern Bank in Boston has acquired an insurance agency in Lynnfield, Mass.

Wintrust Financial (WTFC) in Rosemont, Ill., has renegotiated a $100 million loan agreement with outside lenders.

The $19.3 billion-asset company plans to merge its Hancock Bank and Whitney Bank subsidiaries in the first quarter of 2014, pending regulatory approval, it said Thursday.

The $649 million-asset company said late Thursday that it had retained Sterne, Agee & Leach, making the announcement after it prevailed in a bitter contest with an activist investor.

Recently there have been many acquisitions and other i-banking transactions involving financial technology companies that target low-to-moderate income consumers, according to a new study.