Sterling Financial (STSA) in Spokane, Wash., fell short of fourth-quarter earnings expectations because of a hefty charge for early repayment of debt.

Stimulus spending and Obamacare are making health care a viable way for banks to diversify their loan portfolios.

Iberiabank (IBKC) in Lafayette, La., reported a jump in fourth-quarter profit thanks to higher fee income and lower interest expenses.

Opus Bank in Irvine, Calif., has reshuffled its mix of branch office locations, as it enters Arizona and expands in the greater Los Angeles and Seattle areas.

In previous articles I spoke of banking and bankers. The following vignettes present some bank customers I encountered during my banking days, including a rabbi, a nun, a hotshot attorney and a philanderer.

The chairman and chief executive of Coatesville Savings Bank in Pennsylvania has resigned after eight years leading the bank.

Bank of the Ozarks in Little Rock, Ark., is raising its profile in North Carolina. The $4 billion-asset company announced Friday it is buying The First National Bank of Shelby in Shelby, N.C., for roughly $67.8 million in cash and stock.

Trustmark (TRMK) has received approval from regulators to buy BancTrust Financial Group in Mobile, Ala. The Jackson, Miss., company had waited months for approval to by BancTrust Financial Group (BTFG).

What the mortgage industry wanted was a clear-cut rule from the CFPB. What it received was 800-plus pages of confusion.

Historically a single-family lender, New York thrift Astoria Financial looks to improve profits by focusing on commercial and multifamily loans.

First Horizon National (FHN) of Memphis, Tenn., is raising capital by issuing preferred stock. The parent of $25.5 billion-asset First Tennessee Bank announced Thursday an offering of depositary shares representing a fractional stake in its newly issued preferred stock.

Greek mythology. Steve Martin movies. Clever use of the word "compost." CEO Ed Wehmer uses whatever he can to make his points to analysts.

Cost-cutting is ahead of schedule at KeyCorp, CEO Beth Mooney said. But analysts asked whether the Cleveland bank is doing enough.

Flagstar Bancorp (FBC) in Troy, Mich., reported its third straight quarter in the black.

BancorpSouth (BXS) in Tupelo, Miss., missed analysts' estimates after its net interest margin compressed.

TD Bank has turned a huge campus in Greenville, S.C., that it inherited from South Financial into a showpiece and home for several business units.

Philip Wenger believes Fulton Financial is well-positioned to court small businesses and consumers, though he is open to acquisitions to help the Pennsylvania company expand.

Pacific Valley Bank in Salinas, Calif., has chosen a Bay Area banker as its chief credit officer.

An increase in fee income fueled StellarOne (STEL) in Charlottesville, Va., in the fourth quarter.

Earnings at Wilshire Bancorp (WIBC) soared in the fourth quarter after the Los Angeles company opted not to set aside funds for problem loans.