The Mississippi bank's purchase of software for risk-assessing and stress-testing commercial loans proved fortuitous when it bought Whitney Bank and its book of troubled real estate debt.

A recent survey indicates that a majority of banks plan to spend more on small-business IT than they did last year. Fifth Third is among those making both organizational and technological investments.

Two acquirers tied up some loose ends Friday as the yearend approached.

Despite some notable gains in 2011, for senior women bankers it was a year of two steps forward and one step back.

The former chief executive of Butler Bank in Lowell, Mass., has been banned from the banking business and fined $225,000 in connection with the thrift's failure last year.

As non-profit 501 (c) 3's around the country make a mad dash for end of the year donations, it gives me some pause for thought about the whole nature of "giving."

Umpqua Bank in Portland, Ore., has become the latest bank to be sued for allegedly manipulating the way in which it processed debit card transactions in order to rake in more overdraft fees.

HomeTrust Bank in Asheville, N.C., will convert from a mutual thrift to a stock-owned bank in order to raise capital for future organic growth and possible acquisitions within North Carolina.

PointBank is looking to replace lost checking-account revenue by boosting its social media presence.

Concerned about robberies, Chappell Hill Bank began encouraging patrons to bring legally concealed weapons into its branch. Now the bank's unconventional CEO needs to find ways to bring in loans and reduce costs to ensure long-term survival.

Ahead of the planned sale of its credit card arm to Capital One Financial Corp., HSBC North America has renewed its private-label credit card agreements with Saks Inc. and three other retailers.

Lending officers should tempt consumers with the popular pantry item to test their self-control. Those who can't resist are less likely to pay back their loans.

Private Bank of Buckhead in Atlanta is looking to open its second branch in suburban Decatur.

Banks are between a rock and a hard place these days in figuring out how to recoup the cost of doing business without sparking a public outcry.

NexBank Capital Inc. in Dallas has raised roughly $20 million in fresh capital this year after recently completing a stock sale to group of investors.

Participants in a recent American Banker roundtable debated whether banks should keep adding deposits to build customer relationships down the road.

Security Federal Corp. in Aiken, S.C.. has reorganized as a bank holding company and its subsidiary, Security Federal Bank, has converted from a federally chartered thrift to a state-regulated commercial bank.

CEO James Smith invokes image of George Bailey in telling ABC World News With Diane Sawyer that Webster's mortgage modification program has paid off.

Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc. in Nashville, Tenn., has moved a step closer toward exiting the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Continuing to bulk up in Texas through bite-sized deals, Independent Bank Group Inc. in McKinney said this week that it is buying the $155 million-asset I Bank Texas in Austin.