First Financial Bankshares (FFIN) in Abilene, Texas, said Thursday that it is consolidating all of its bank charters in an effort to cut expenses and boost profits.

Associated Banc-Corp (ASBC) in Green Bay, Wis., reported that its third-quarter income increased 32% from a year earlier, to $45 million.

Penns Woods Bancorp (PWOD) agreed to acquire Luzerne National Bank (LUZR) in Luzerne, Pa.

Pinnacle, the flagship bank unit of the $6.7 billion-asset Pinnacle Bancorp, agreed last Thursday to buy the $183 million-asset First State Bank of Joplin in Missouri. A day later, the bank announced plans to buy the $139 million-asset Hastings State Bank in Nebraska.

Faced with anemic demand for construction and real estate loans, community banks are continuing to find that the best way to expand in the much-desired commercial-and-industrial space is to raid bigger rivals.

KCB Bank in Kearney, Mo., a unit of Bancshares of Missouri, filed an application this month with the Federal Reserve to assume the assets and liabilities of the $38 million-asset Northland National Bank in Gladstone, Mo.

We need more experts who can investigate what happened and identify the perpetrators of attacks rather than simply focus on protecting our critical infrastructure.

WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department said Thursday it will auction off its preferred shares in 11 more institutions that remain in the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Improving conditions in the real estate market are helping Washington Federal (WAFD) in Seattle, but tight margins and other challenges lie ahead.

Jeff Davis Bancshares of Jennings, La., has agreed to acquire Guaranty Capital, as the buyer expands northward in its home state.

East West Bancorp grew its commercial loans and reduced deposit costs, sending the largest Chinese-American bank to its seventh consecutive quarter of higher profits.

The good news is that several dozen banks are projected to outpace peers in loan growth in the year ahead. The bad news: only half will profit from doing so.

Consistency and ample communication are the cornerstones of acquisition announcements. Compassion and reassurance to your new team members flow to your customers and the community.

Third-quarter profit at Astoria Financial (AF) improved as it continues to emphasize multifamily and commercial real estate loans, and cut costs.

Bankers urged their counterparts to rally against Basel III and other regulations at the American Bankers Association conference in San Diego. In contrast, regulators tried to convince bankers that their voices would be heard in Washington.

Commercial banks donated significant amounts of money to some of the most critical -- and most hotly contested -- congressional races this year.

Strong mortgage banking revenue boosted third-quarter earnings at Umpqua Holdings (UMPQ) by almost 15% from a year earlier, to $25 million.

Associated Banc-Corp in Green Bay, Wis., announced plans to close a dozen branches a day before it is scheduled to release its third-quarter results.

KBW named 42 small banks it says will have loan growth that far outpaces their peers and the overall economy next year. But half of them probably won't translate that into big profits.

American State Bancshares in Great Bend, Kan., has taken a small step towards its goal of becoming a $1 billion-asset company.