Every banker is under scrutiny, but last year we pegged 10 executives as potential news makers for 2012. Some made big headlines; others seemed to get through the year without making much noise. Here is a recap.

S&T Bancorp in Indiana, Pa., has named two banking veterans to leadership roles.

The Bancorp in Wilmington, Del., plans to raise $50 million through a common stock offering.

Fulton Financial has agreed to sell a payments business to Canadian group.

A yearlong FDIC research project charts the impact of consolidation and other pressures on small banks, but suggests continued viability for the sector.

Institution for Savings in Newburyport opened a branch in a Topsfield, Mass., high school after a large bank left and explains why its move is good business.

Although this initial phase of the program may seem beneficial as it seeks to keep European competitors honest, enforced convergence is a double-edged sword that raises worrisome issues for our country.

In its first-year progress report on community banks, the FDIC details how it is responding to specific complaints outlined by institutions at roundtables earlier this year.

Albert Celini will supervise credit, operational and market risk management for the unit of the $3.1 billion-asset Sun Bancorp.

Armed with $350 million in capital and an expanded infrastructure, the CEO of National Bank in Colorado will be on the hunt for acquisitions in the new year.

Umpqua Bank has lured a veteran executive from First Horizon National Corporation (FHN) to lead its efforts to improve customers' experiences.

First Bank & Trust in Brookings, S.D., has agreed to buy a prepaid card portfolio from Inter National Bank in McAllen, Texas. First Bank did not disclose the price it will pay for the $21 million portfolio.

Arvest Bank, the nation's third-largest privately held bank, agreed to buy 29 branches from Bank of America (BAC).

Community Trust Financial of Ruston, La., has received a $45 million investment from Pine Brook, a New York private-equity firm, the two firms announced Monday.

Bankia SA, the largest Spanish bank due to receive a European bailout, plans to seek buyers for its Florida unit early next year in a sale that may fetch at least $500 million, people with knowledge of the matter said.

Sterling Financial (STSA) in Spokane, Wash., will buy three branches around Seattle from a unit of Boston Private Financial (BPFH).

Know where - and when - your bank's target audience goes online for information and social interaction. It’s better to have just two social media channels that are well-supported than five left unattended.

Kevin Cummings makes our list of Community Bankers to Watch as his New Jersey mutual thrift mulls a second-step conversion and possible acquisitions around New York.

A healthy bank preemptively sells. Unspent capital burns a hole in a private-equity investor's pocket. A niche player waves the white flag. These are among six deal scenarios you'll see repeatedly next year.

Investors Bancorp's Kevin Cummings says the mutual thrift is ready to take the next step in its process of converting to a publicly owned company.