Hayward Bancshares in Eau Claire, Wis., is merging its two bank charters in a bid to cut regulatory costs.

First Midwest Bancorp (FMBI) offset insurance costs and the impact of shrinking margins with the sale of its stake in a software firm.

Members of the American Bankers Association have elected a new leadership team and voted in 10 new board members.

PacWest Bancorp (PACW) in Los Angeles doubled its profits in the third quarter thanks to its purchase of First California Financial Group (FCAL).

City Holding Co. (CHCO) in Charleston, W.Va., reported a 32% increase in quarterly profit as acquisitions helped boost its interest income.

The Salt Lake City company has long lagged in mortgages, and now is the time to get more aggressive as big rivals pull back and small competitors struggle with qualified-mortgage rules, CEO Harris Simmons says.

Prosperity Bancshares (PB) in Houston reported a 20% boost in profit after announcing two deals in the third quarter.

Fulton Financial (FULT) in Lancaster, Pa., saw reduced revenue from mortgage sales and service charges in the third quarter, but improvements in credit quality partially offset those declines.

UMB Financial Corp. (UMBF) in Kansas City, Mo., posted its 14th consecutive quarter of loan growth for the period ending Sept. 30.

Poage Bankshares (PBSK), in Ashland, Ky., has agreed to acquire its crosstown rival, Town Square Financial, for $14.7 million.

Bankers are devoting more attention than ever to regulatory compliance and cost-cutting, but they need to be careful not to let service suffer in the process, a panel of CEOs said Tuesday.

Analysts hammered Regions and Synovus for a rising cost base amid weak economic conditions, while Signature Bank in New York was given a pass since its revenues are growing faster than its expenses.

National Bank Holdings (NBHC) in Greenwood Village, Colo., has formed a division to specialize in government and nonprofit clients.

Severn Bancorp (SVBI) in Annapolis, Md., swung to large quarterly loss as it worked to restructure its balance sheet by selling off bad loans.

Great Southern Bancorp (GSBC) in Springfield, Mo., beat analysts' estimates in the third quarter by reducing expenses and improving credit quality.

FirstMerit Corp. (FMER) in Akron, Ohio, earned $40.7 million in the third quarter, up 16% from the same period a year ago, due largely to its recent acquisition of Citizens Republic Bancorp in Flint, Mich.

Foundations Bank in Pewaukee, Wis., has made it official with interim leader John Hazod.

The two cities join New York, L.A. and other cities in trying to force the banks that hold municipal deposits to make more loans in low-income neighborhoods. Some industry officials oppose them, while others welcome them.

Los Angeles-based Wilshire Bancorp (WIBC) said this week that it had a third-quarter profit of $11.3 million, largely due to steadily improving credit quality and net gains on loan sales.

Improved credit quality and steady loan yields helped Hanmi Financial Corp. (HAFC) post solid earnings in the third quarter.