George L. Engelke Jr. has resigned as chairman of Astoria Financial (AF), ending his long tenure with the Lake Success, N.Y., company that included a 22-year run as its chief executive officer.

John Kanas' BankUnited seems like a small threat now, but Capital One fought hard to protect its standing in the prized Northeastern market down the road.

FirstBank of Lexington, Tenn., has named its chief banking officer as its new president.

Schiff Hardin in Charlotte, N.C., just created Schiff Hardin Strategic Advisers to help banks distance themselves from past problems and prevent them from reoccurring. The firm is led by two former Wachovia executives.

A San Antonio community bank owned by the family of prominent businessman Tom Benson is acquiring another small bank in what would be its first-ever acquisition.

Taylor Capital Group (TAYC) in Rosemont, Ill., is expanding its mortgage unit by hiring more than 60 retail mortgage professionals from Amera Mortgage in Milford, Mich.

Community banks are expanding their mortgage operations after struggling to gain ground with commercial loans.

The Federal Reserve Board has issued an enforcement orders against First Security Bank of Malta in Montana that gives the bank 30 days to become adequately capitalized or sell itself to another institution.

John Kanas, BankUnited's CEO, said settling with his former employer was a better option than enduring a lengthy legal battle and possible trial.

Capital One Financial (COF) has settled a longstanding legal dispute with former executive John Kanas.

Deals in Texas were pricey and plentiful in the first five months of the year, new data show. The state set the pace for rapid bank consolidation once before, and it could do so again.

The Treasury Department plans to auction pools of securities in nearly two-thirds of the banks left in the Troubled Asset Relief Program, its most aggressive move yet to get small banks out of the program.

For community bankers, it was always a romantic notion, the idea that they could give mortgage lending short shrift and beat the big guys on commercial loans. Mortgage lending is looking pretty good to these bankers now.

First Security Bank of Bozeman, Mont., has named a longtime employee as its new president and chief executive.

Premier Community Bank in Marion, Wis., announced Tuesday that it is expanding into central Wisconsin with a deal to buy four branches from Baylake Bank (BYLK) of Sturgeon Bay, Wis.

BB&T, Webster and TCF announce redemption plans and other regionals are likely to follow in advance of new capital rules that take effect Jan. 1.

In a positive sign for bank stocks, Russell Investment Group has added 25 banks to its index of 3,000 publicly traded companies while removing just three banks from its influential list.

Jacksonville Bancorp (JAXB) in Florida announced Monday that its president and chief executive, Price W. Schwenck, has retired and that its board has named veteran banker Stephen C. Green as his successor.

JPMorgan had over $200 billion in TAG deposits in the last quarter. That's almost 20% of the bank's deposits and equal to 60% of the now-infamous chief investment office's portfolio.

Relief from fair value accounting is essential for community banks to survive and ultimately thrive in today’s economic climate. Fortunately, legislation before Congress would untether regulatory accounting practices from GAAP.