Northeast Bancorp in Lewiston, Maine, has repurchased the roughly 4,200 preferred shares it issued to the Treasury Department under the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

The bureau could offer an X Prize, encouraging companies to solve problems through competition or invite applications from entrepreneurs and financial companies, providing those with the most promising ideas a time-limited waiver for pilot tests.

Ongoing troubles in Europe could force another bank there to sell off a key U.S. holding.

International Bancshares (IBOC) in Laredo, Texas, has completed the repurchase of its remaining 131,000 shares of preferred stock issued under the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

A U.S. Century spokeswoman confirmed Wednesday that the $1.3 billion-asset bank's shareholders approved the sale to C1 Bank in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Teche Holding Co. (TSH) in New Iberia, La., has agreed to sell a loan portfolio with a book value of $46.3 million.

There are too many banks that "cannot survive," the heads of CertusBank say in discussing their recent acquisition of a failed bank and predictions of more to come.

Many bankers in the New York area saw few effects from the October hurricane, while the Philadelphia area saw widespread bank and ATM closures, according to the Fed's Beige Book.

The very same low interest rates and easy credit terms that ran up the "for sale" housing business are now busily at work running up the multifamily rental business.

More banks are looking to outsource advisory tasks as compliance costs rise, though some observers believe the trend could lead to more oversight of the actual vendor relationships.

My Community Federal Credit Union in western Texas discusses ways to get consumers excited about digital budgeting tools that have underperformed elsewhere.

Highly skilled leaders are in short supply among small banks these days. Attracting them comes down to making a compelling case that a bank's prospect are bright, says Rod Taylor.

From the C-suite on down, fundamental credit skills are as highly valued these days as more trendy specialties like risk management, says Rod Taylor.

Large equity stakes were once enough to attract highly sought-after executives. These days banks, however, banks are being forced to offer more cash and other incentives, says to Rod Taylor.

Just days after the Senate's top Democrat, Harry Reid, proposed a two-year renewal to the Transaction Account Guarantee program, a leading Republican on the Senate Banking Committee came forward and said he plans to oppose the extension.

The effort to extend the Transaction Account Guarantee, which is due to expire at yearend, received a major "boost this week after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid unveiled a bill to keep it alive for another two years," writes American Banker's Joe Adler.

Sen. Bob Corker said Wednesday he plans to oppose extending the Transaction Account Guarantee program, just days after the Senate's top Democrat proposed a two-year renewal.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has sponsored a standalone bill to give the Transaction Account Guarantee program another two year. The extension, which many community bankers view as critical, is still very much in doubt.

Coronado First Bank (NADO) in California has agreed to buy San Diego Private Bank for roughly $15.5 million in stock.