Central Bancshares in Muscatine, Iowa, plans to consolidate three of its bank subsidiaries under one charter.

PL Capital has taken a $7 million stake in MutualFirst Financial (MFSF) in Muncie, Ind.

Provident New York scouted other potential targets in the New York City region besides Sterling, but too many of them still think they can survive as independents, CEO Jack Kopnisky says.

Elmira Savings Bank (ESBK) in New York is scaling back its involvement in the Treasury Department's small-business lending fund.

Municipal Employees Credit Union in Baltimore has agreed to buy Advance Bank.

Capitol Bancorp's (CBCRQ) deal to sell a struggling New Mexico subsidiary has fallen through.

Banks are increasing their research and monitoring of third parties as regulators take a closer look at outsourcing.

Many regional banks are too small to face the most onerous capital requirements yet big enough to grapple with the growing mountain of regulations. That, and some deft positioning, has left the group more profitable than its larger and smaller brethren alike. American Banker editors discuss the success of the regionals and the challenges they face.

HopFed Bancorp in Hopkinsville, Ky., has drawn the ire of activist investor Joseph Stilwell over its recent agreement to buy another bank.

Intrust Bank in Wichita, Kan., has promoted its longtime chief operating officer to become its president.

Alliance Bank & Trust in Gastonia, N.C., has a new chief executive.

Jerry Craft, head of Corserv Solutions in Atlanta, says he has solved a longtime credit card dilemma for community banks.

The $3.8 billion-asset Provident said Thursday it would pay $344 million in stock for Sterling, or about 1.3 shares of Provident stock for each Sterling share.

Recent enforcement actions indicate banks must get better at evaluating the risks associated with their third-party service providers.

Atlantic Coast Financial in Jacksonville expected disgruntled shareholder Jay Sidhu to blast its deal to sell itself to Bond Street Holdings — and he came through.

Shareholders will vote on a proposal to rename it CommunityOne Bancorp at their annual meeting on June 20, FNB United said Wednesday. Its board has already approved the change.

New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares (NHTB) in Newport has agreed to buy Central Financial Corp. (CEVT) in Randolph, Vt.

Shares of Independent Bank Group (IBTX) in McKinney, Texas, rose nearly 13% during their first day of trading.

Community Bank System (CBU) in DeWitt, N.Y., is asking shareholders for authorization to issue more common stock.

A number of community banks are relying on fixed-rate loans to produce short-term profits, but the move could backfire when interest rates rise.