Dozens of small banks in California remain under enforcement actions, leading some industry observers to predict an impending wave of regulator-led consolidation.

Recent increases in bank stock values and the investment bank's success last year make William Hickey "guardedly optimistic," he says.

Mercantile Bank Corp. in Grand Rapids, Mich., has now made money in four straight quarters and its auditors seem convinced that it will remain profitable for the foreseeable future.

Mariner Real Estate Management, a Kansas real estate investment and management firm, has acquired a 25% stake in a loan portfolio totaling about $101 million from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

Riverview Bancorp in Vancouver, Wash., is projecting a loss of up to $5.6 million in the quarter that ended Dec. 30 after determining that five previously performing real estate loans are now considered to be impaired.

Wintrust Financial Corp. in Lake Forest, Ill., has agreed to buy the trust operations of Suburban Bank & Trust Co. in Elmhurst, Ill.

Despite questions over his legal authority, the new director of the consumer bureau holds crucial voting power on safety and soundness rules as a member of the FDIC board of directors.

Growth in commercial and industrial loans accelerated to a torrid 18% annual rate in the fourth quarter, Fed estimates indicate. Total loan growth fell to a 3.5% rate, however, as a slowdown at big banks was only partially offset by a pickup at small banks.

First Niagara Financial Group CEO John Koelmel discusses his deal to sell 37 branches in New York to KeyCorp, his plans to sell more branches and his argument that its bigger deal with HSBC will pay off.

Shares of the thinly traded First California Financial Group Inc. soared Friday after it was disclosed in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing that the wealthy owners of the Minnesota Twins baseball club have acquired a large stake in the banking company and are pushing for its sale.

New data show that banks that sold large sales to dispose of nonperforming assets have seen stock price gains that surpass other banking companies. The approach still has a fair share of opponents who prefer to work out the assets over time.

Costly regulations associated with being a bank holding company appear to have forced another insurance company to give up its bank charter.

PremierWest Bank in Medford, Ore., said Friday that it will close one-fourth of its branches to lower expenses as it struggles to return to profitability after more than three years of losses.

BankAtlantic Bancorp's deal to sell the bulk of its assets to BB&T Corp. has come under attack from yet another BantAtlantic investor: Wells Fargo.

Fifth Third Bancorp has promoted Mike Collins to area investment manager for the Butler County region of Cincinnati and Western Ohio, its second such move in less than a month.

IberiaBank Corp. in Lafayette, La., is eyeing expansion in Birmingham and other metropolitan markets in Alabama.

Tom Grady, tapped last year as Florida's banking commissioner, want to cuts regulatory costs to help state's survivors recover.

All banks are affected by more stringent regulation, but it is the less-healthy ones that are most likely to throw in the towel because of it.

KeyCorp returns to the M&A trail for first time in years in agreeing to buy 37 branches in western New York. The seller, First Niagara, is still trying to digest what it already has in the works.

Already an active lender in the recreational vehicle and lawn and garden industries, TCF Financial Corp. is now looking to make a big splash in the water sports business.