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Bank holding companies overcame a lackluster fourth quarter to earn a record $118.4 billion in wealth management income in 2011, according to a new report.

Montgomery County in Maryland is teaming up with five local banks on a new program designed to encourage more bank lending to small businesses.

FDIC loss-sharing deals are significantly down this year as failures get smaller, bidders become more competitive and the economic situation improves.

Though bank deals have risen in Texas because of its robust economy and in California because of abundant capital, small Kansas banks are partnering because they worry about their viability as little guys.

Navy Federal Credit Union in Vienna, Va., has established a commercial loan participation program in which it will buy business loans from other credit unions that are nearing their cap on business lending.

Camden National Bank in Maine has agreed to sell a branch in Rockland, Maine, that it is buying from Bank of America (BAC) because of competition concerns raised by the Justice Department.

The thirst for greater clarity about capital spending and valuations is prompting bank buyers and sellers to flock to cash.

QCR Holdings (QCRH) in Moline, Ill., has repaid about a fourth of its money it received from the Treasury Department's Small Business Lending Fund Program as part of its effort to increase its tangible common equity.

Sterling Financial (STSA) in Spokane, Wash., is selling all of its Montana branches as it aims to become more efficient and improve its overall profits. Eagle Bancorp is buying the branches for $7.3 million.

Seeking to diversify following its public offering in May, EverBank Financial (EVER) in Jacksonville, Fla., announced Monday that it is buying a commercial lending unit from GE Capital for $2.5 billion in cash.

Historically low interest rates and weak loan demand have masked the long-term profit potential of core deposits. When (not if) the cycle turns, community banks' earnings power will reappear.

In a slow stretch for issuance of bank shares, companies looking to raise capital for acquisitions have come to the fore in offerings that have performed relatively well.

The effective tax rate for banks has dropped to a range of roughly 30% to 32%, down from a range of roughly 32% to 33% in the years leading up to the recession. Recoveries of deferred tax assets might be the reason.

Even a mobile and web heavy financial institution can benefit from brick and mortar. USAA is using touchscreens and videoconferencing to provide advanced advice and help lightly staffed stores.

Upheaval in funding markets has radically reshaped the liability profile of foreign bank operations in the United States, but they have continued to increase lending despite an exodus of deposits that began in the middle of last year.

Tim Lathe is leaving KeyCorp (KEY) because his position within its community bank is being eliminated roughly 17 months after it was created.

Glacier Bancorp (GBCI) in Kalispell, Mont., has appointed former state banking commissioner Annie M. Goodwin to its board of directors.

Regulators revealed on Friday this year's list of communities where banks can receive credit under the Community Reinvestment Act for working in those areas.

The board of Postal Credit Union in Woodbury, Minn., has approved an amendment to its field of membership bylaws that would allow anyone in the country who makes a $5 donation to the John D. Miller Scholarship fund to be eligible to join the $530 million-asset credit union.