Sterling Financial, which has 173 branches in Washington, Oregon, California, and Idaho, announced the launch of its free mobile app on Tuesday.

Free checking accounts are on the wane at traditional banks, according to a MoneyRates.com survey released Monday. But customers can still avoid monthly maintenance fees at a majority of online banks.

Monona State Bank in Wisconsin has begun using Encompass360, Ellie Mae's system for managing mortgage originations and servicing, the financial technology company announced Tuesday.

First National Bank announced Tuesday that it's made a $300,000 investment in the Colorado Enterprise Fund's Early Stage Loan Pool.

Signature Bank (SBNY) in New York has added to its national sales staff for specialty finance.

Community Bankers Trust (ESXB) in Glen Allen, Va., has agreed to sell its Georgia operations to Community & Southern Holdings in Atlanta.

Banks rely on their names to create stable, trustworthy images. Unfortunately, their copy-cat tactics also create confusion and demonstrate a lack of creativity, branding experts say. Here are some notable, overused examples.

F.N.B. Corp. (FNB) will cut 57 jobs at PVF Capital (PVFC) in October after it buys the Solon, Ohio, thrift company.

Doreen Eberley, the director of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s Division of Risk Management Supervision, says examiners are more sensitive today to risks that are not obvious on a bank's balance sheet and that banks need to scrutinize an ever-changing landscape of new products.

A surge in mortgage activity left Evolve Bank & Trust in Memphis feeling the need for a more efficient way to handle commissions and recordkeeping.

Community banks are looking at ways to keep making mortgages despite added regulation, rising rates and a shrinking refinance market.

ESSA Bancorp (ESSA) in Stroudsburg, Pa., has agreed to a buy most of First National Community Bancorp's (FNCB) retail operations in Monroe County.

The $557 million-asset company announced Monday that Holland will become chief credit officer for its SouthCrest Bank unit. He succeeds Kent Berry, who retired this year.

With interest rates rising, lenders are pushing hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages again. Lenders say borrowers like the lower monthly payments and the loans no longer have the onerous interest-only or balloon features that contributed to the housing crisis.

Delanco Bancorp (DLNO) in Delanco, N.J., will convert from a mutual thrift to a fully public company.

Independent Bank (IBCP) in Ionia, Mich., plans to raise up to $86 million through a common stock offering.

BNCCorp (BNCC) in Bismarck, N.D., named Timothy Franz its permanent chief executive less than a month after he become interim CEO.

Delmar Bancorp in Salisbury, Md., has worked out an arrangement to redeem preferred stock from an outside investor.

Donald Wilson, chairman of Community Financial Shares (CFIS) in Glen Ellyn, Ill., has been appointed the company's president and chief executive.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency took six enforcement actions and ended several others last month, the agency said Friday.