Berkshire Hills is paying for its latest acquisition, of Beacon Federal, in a way that protects shareholder returns at the expense of its tangible book value.

Anchor BanCorp is closing two Wisconsin branches and cutting 11 positions as it struggles to return to profitability and repay a line of credit.

Equity Bancshares in Wichita, Kan., has filled its tank to fuel growth. The $600 million-asset company raised $20.4 million in capital that it plans to use for acquisitions and organic growth.

United Financial of Massachusetts is buying Connecticut's New England Banchares in a deal that makes a lot of strategic sense. Yet investors have given the buyer a rousing thumbs-down.

Incensed shareholders and lawsuits triggered by failed say on pay votes aren't the half of it. Just wait until the expected M&A wave unleashes 'say on golden parachute' litigation.

C1 Bank is still waiting for someone to deposit $1 million and drive off with a car, but the free press from the promo — now expanded to include business clients — has enabled the Florida bank to suspend paid advertising on its name change.

Thomas Hoy has led the Glen Falls, N.Y., company since 1997. Thomas Murphy, who will become the company's president next month, is set to succeed Hoy when he steps down.

The Massachusetts company has grown in upstate New York by buying Rome Bancorp and opening about a dozen branches in recent years.

Banco Popular in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is nearing the finish line of its two-year project to rebrand itself in the continental U.S.

As leaders of church and national minority business organizations, few of our congregants or constituents understand or care about the Volcker Rule. Most, however, are concerned about the growing gap in compensation between the working poor and that of the CEOs of major banks, such as Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase.

Even after adjusting for tax differences, S Corp banks generally outperform their C Corp peers.

Abacus Federal Savings Bank and more than a dozen of its former employees are facing criminal charges related to a scheme in which it allegedly falsified information on mortgage applications so that unqualified borrowers could secure loans.

Orrstown Financial Services (ORRF) in Shippensburg, Pa., has been hit with a lawsuit alleging that it misled investors about its financial strength during its March 2010 stock offering.

Shareholders frown on United Financial's all-stock deal for healthy bank in good market.

The JOBS Act opened the door for more banks to deregister from the SEC. So far, more than 60 banks and thrifts have filed to deregister less than two months after the law was signed.

Kip Weissman, partner with law firm Luse Gorman Pomerenk & Schick in Washington, says lack of options for small banks has more of them weighing whether to partner with similarly sized rivals.

Preferred Bank (PFBC) of Los Angeles has signed a memorandum of understanding with regulators after a more formal consent order was lifted.

Fitch Ratings has lowered its outlook on Trustmark Corporation (TRMK) from "stable" to "negative" following Jackson, Miss., company's announcement Tuesday that it is acquiring BancTrust Financial (BTFG) of Mobile, Ala.

After operating exclusively in Massachusetts for more than a century, United Financial Bancorp (UBNK) in West Springfield is making the leap across the state line.

The election inspector determined that the nominee for Stilwell Group was delinquent in turning in a signed master ballot, invalidating most of the firm's votes as it challenged the Renton, Wash., company.