The "we are all buyers" mentality held by most of Chicago's large community banks changed when Taylor Capital agreed to sell to MB Financial for $680 million. It could signal the beginning of long-awaited consolidation in the Chicago area.

Planned price increases and hints that households are looking for higher yields for their savings suggest that the flood tide of deposits could finally be ebbing.

Normally community banks avoid loan participations with nearby rivals, but a group of Delaware banks decided they had to do so to compete with big banks — and survive.

Barclays is in an awkward situation that will ring familiar to bankers in the U.S. The U.K. bank has been terminating relationships with money transmitters, including several that wire funds to Somalia, a ravaged country that relies heavily on remittances from immigrants in the West. The bank says it's uncomfortable with the risk and expense of serving these businesses in light of recent fines levied against big financial institutions for anti-money laundering lapses. But now it's being accused of starting a humanitarian crisis.

First PacTrust in Los Angeles plans to become to Banc of California, effective July 16.

First Bank in Hamilton, N.J., has agreed to buy Heritage Community Bank in Randolph.

MB Financial has agreed to buy Taylor Capital Group. The deal would create one of the largest banking companies in Chicago.

Citigroup Inc., the third-biggest U.S. bank by assets, posted a 42 percent increase in second-quarter profit that beat analysts' estimates as stock-trading revenue surged and losses on unwanted assets declined.

M&A, bank consolidation and marketing strategies are among the reasons why a number of banks have changed their names in recent months. Here are some notable examples from this year.

FBC Bancshares in Conroe, Texas, has raised $13 million in a debt offering.

Republic Bancorp (RBCAA) of Louisville, Ky., hopes a deal for a small thrift owned by H&R Block will help it rebuild momentum it has lost in recent years.

Great Southern Bancorp in Springfield, Mo., is closing 11 branches in a bid to cut costs.

Profits rose at Webster Financial in Waterbury, Conn., on strong fee income and cost controls.

Taylor Capital Group (TAYC) in Chicago plans to retire one-quarter of its Troubled Asset Relief Program stock that the Treasury Department auctioned to private investors last June.

Independent Bank (INDB) in Rockland, Mass., reported a jump in second-quarter profit as interest revenue and fee income rose.

Republic Bancorp (RBCAA) is increasing its stake in the tax refund services business by buying the banking operations of H&R Block (HRB).

The Federal Reserve Board has terminated a regulatory order with Waterstone Financial in Wauwatosa, Wis.

Rocky Wirtz's championship NHL team, the Chicago Blackhawks, gets more press than his community banks, but they make more money.

Opus Bank in Irvine, Calif., is establishing a merchant-banking division led by two banking veterans.

Ask Roberto Herencia, the new chairman of Metropolitan Bank Group, about its well-placed ATM near one of the Windy City's most popular bars, and he'll probably smile.