The Spokane, Wash., company has agreed to sell three branches to Pacific Financial (PFLC) in Aberdeen, Wash. The branches are in Astoria, Ore., Seaside, Ore., and Aberdeen.

FirstMerit (FMER) of Akron, Ohio, seeks to raise as much as $350 million in connection with its deal for Citizens Republic Bancorp (CRBC).

First Niagara Financial Group (FNFG) in Buffalo, N.Y., has filled its openings for general counsel and human resources manager from within.

Aided by its first whole-bank acquisition in seven years, City Holding Company (CHCO) in Charleston, W.Va., reported a $10.9 million profit in the fourth quarter of 2012, up 13% from the same quarter a year earlier.

Delinquency rates on student loans made in the past two years stand at 15% in the U.S. as recent graduates struggle to find jobs, Fair Isaac said.

Charles R. Crowley and Michael C. Voinovich will open an investment banking office in Cleveland for Boenning & Scattergood.

Grandpoint Capital's plan to acquire its ninth bank in less than three years has been terminated, or possibly just iced for now.

WesBanco in Wheeling, W. Va., reported higher quarterly earnings because of a lower loan-loss provision and higher interest income.

Zions Bancorp., in Salt Lake City, took an $84 million charge related to trust-preferred collateralized debt obligations last quarter, but experts say it will pay off. Better loan totals help, too.

A number of community banks are turning to alternative channels, including lending cooperatives, to address imbalanced loan-to-deposit ratios.

BankUnited (BKU) of Miami Lakes, Fla., reported better-than-expected earnings in the fourth quarter as a surge in interest income more than offset a dip in fee income and the impact of a penalty for pre-paying Federal Home Loan bank advances.

The New Jersey company is well capitalized but was challenged making bigger loans to its commercial clients, an issue that could lead other small banks to seek buyers.

Lake Shore Bancorp (LSBK) in Dunkirk, N.Y., is ready to make a change at the top as two directors approach retirement age.

National Bank Holdings (NBHC) reported a higher quarterly profit thanks to a wider net interest margin and lower tax and loan-loss provisions.

Mortgage earnings climbed to 14% of total revenues at Wells Fargo in the fourth quarter. Banks say they can scale down operations quickly when volume fizzles.

Banks want to collect more data to target offers at their card customers. One company's facial-recognition system may offer an edge, assuming it's not going too far.

Eight new members have joined the committee that advises the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. on community-bank policy.

Lakeland Bancorp in Oak Ridge has agreed to buy Somerset Hills Bancorp in Bernardsville, N.J.

As loan-loss reserves normalize, the earnings benefit from lower provision expenses will abate and earnings will be squeezed. M&A should emerge as an attractive strategy to maintain earnings and generate growth.

Zions Bancorp. (ZION) posted lower fourth-quarter earnings after taking a big charge on its holdings of collateralized debt obligations.