The Small Business Administration is temporarily waiving fees on loans of $150,000 or less, and community bankers say it will encourage lenders and borrowers to pursue loans that they had shied away from in recent years.

If CSR efforts are allowed to fall by the wayside, it will be at the expense of customer trust and future growth.

JPMorgan Chase (JPM) made more loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration than any other bank in fiscal year 2013, while Wells Fargo was tops by dollar volume for the fifth consecutive year, according to new data from the SBA.

Heartland Financial (HTLF) in Dubuque, Iowa, missed Wall Street's quarterly earnings estimates after its loan-loss provision rose and revenue from loan sales fell.

Berkshire Hills Bancorp (BHLB) in Pittsfield, Mass., recorded a decline in quarterly earnings despite improvement in its interest margin.

United Bankshares (UBSI) in Charleston, W. Va., posted higher quarterly earnings due largely to reduced expenses.

It should be a human resources department’s responsibility to spot poor leadership qualities, flawed compensation programs and workforces ill equipped to handle a crisis.

The $12.8 billion-asset company plans to offer $50 million of common stock and up to $100 million of perpetual preferred stock, it announced Monday.

Sendhil Mullainathan, the former head of research at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, speaks in an interview about when it's appropriate, and when it's not, for the government to try to influence consumer behavior.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. took action against 10 banks in September and released 13 from enforcement actions.

Chemical Financial Corp. (CHFC) in Midland, Mich., said Monday that its third-quarter earnings rose 14% from the same quarter last year, to $15 million, thanks largely to revenue gains generated by its acquisition of 21 Independent Bank (IBCP) branches in December 2012.

Industry observers are bracing to see whether the cost of international wire transfers will skyrocket once a new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule goes into effect starting today.

Carrollton Bancorp in Lutherville, Md., is changing its name to Bay Bancorp.

LCNB Corp. (LCNB) in Lebanon, Ohio, has agreed to buy Eaton National Bank & Trust in Eaton, Ohio, for $24.8 million in cash.

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. — Honor CU, fresh off its acquisition of $80 million SIR FCU and its three branches, has agreed to buy the Decatur, Mich., branch of St. Joseph-based Edgewater Bank, along with 850 customer accounts and $14 million in assets.

Reliance Bancshares in St. Louis was headed toward potential failure when a semi-retired banker, Tom Brouster, stepped in as an investor. Executives broke down their challenges into manageable tasks, focused intently on cleaning up bad loans and are now ready to start lending and pursuing M&A, he says.

The $493 million-asset company bought back its remaining shares for $3.1 million, a 1% discount, it announced Monday.

Legacy Bank of Florida in Boca Raton raised $1.7 million in the third quarter, but remains short of the capital levels required by a regulatory consent order.

Bank of Hawaii Corp. (BOH) in Honolulu reported a dip in quarterly earnings as revenue from mortgage banking plunged 65%.