Increased stability among Georgia's banks also increases the odds of consolidation in the once-beleaguered state.

Outsiders were as excited as executives of the Columbus, Ga., bank after it repaid its Tarp funds, said CEO Kessel Stelling, who received scores of well-wishes.

Tompkins Financial in Ithaca, N.Y., said Thomas Rochon will become chairman after the retirement next May of James Byrnes, the $4.9 billion-asset company's founding chairman.

Shares of First NBC Bank Holdings (NBCB) in New Orleans dipped after it reported a decline in quarterly income in its first earnings report since going public in May.

Bank of the Ozarks (OZRK), HomeTrust Bancshares (HTBI), Glacier Bancorp (GCBI) and Central Valley Community Bancorp (CVCY) all announced deal completions Wednesday.

Avidbank Holdings in Palo Alto, Calif., has completed the redemption of its Troubled Asset Relief Program stock.

The serial acquirer in Rosemont, Ill., announced Wednesday that it has agreed to buy the $165 million-asset Diamond Bancorp, which has a branch on Chicago's north side and three branches in its northern suburbs.

The Seattle mortgage lender's agreements to buy two small banks would give it more commercial lending expertise and put it in the company of other banks like Sterling Financial and AmericanWest that are engaged in M&A-driven makeovers.

Center Bancorp (CNBC) in Union, N.J., has named a new chairman for its bank. The $1.6 billion-asset company also announced Wednesday that it had made its interim chief financial officer permanent.

More banks are planning to sell or spin off businesses because of Basel III, shareholder pressure and other forces, according to the Institute of International Finance and EY.

The rapidly growing Opus Bank in Irvine, Calif., has split its commercial and retail banking operations.

Bankers must do a lot of homework when a vendor is sold in order to prepare for the transition and potentially take advantage of the change.

Sovereign Bank will change its name to Santander Bank and spend $200 million to upgrade branches and roll out an advertising campaign.

Texas Capital Bancshares (TCBI) in Dallas announced several executive moves in advance of its new chief executive taking office.

WSFS Financial in Wilmington, Del., is expanding its consumer lending business to include private student loans.

Hudson City Bancorp (HCBK) in Paramus, N.J., reported a second-quarter profit of $48.7 million, down from $72.3 million in the second quarter of 2012. Earnings per share were 10 cents, in line with the average estimate of analysts polled by Bloomberg.

People tend to remain loyal to bankers and banks they know, like and trust. Whether or not we fit that description is entirely up to us.

The chief executive of BOK Financial (BOKF) has decided to step down after 40 years with the Tulsa, Okla., company.

The Florida bank says that after a string of troubled-bank acquisitions that brought it lots of short-term benefits, it is turning to deals like its agreement for Gulfstream that will juice earnings over the long haul.

A relief package proposed by three senators last week has reinforced hope that Capitol Hill will ease community banks' regulatory burden by yearend.