WASHINGTON – The FDIC said today it approved the acquisition of Griffith (Indiana) Savings Bank by United FCU of St. Joseph, Mich., the first bank to be acquired by a credit union.

Despite recent sweet talk about building better relationships and regaining trust, few banks are taking meaningful steps to do either. It will take more than sympathetic ads, friendlier tellers or bonus credit card miles. This may require some time in therapy.

Shareholders for Herald National Bank of New York have until Dec. 21 to decide how they want to get paid in the proposed merger with BankUnited Inc. of Miami Lakes, Fla.

Activist investor John W. Palmer appears to have won his bid for a seat on the board of the $1.2 billion-asset HF Financial Corp.

U.S. Bancorp in Minneapolis has added two high-profile business leaders to its board of directors.

The FDIC has served as the receiver on 90 banks so far this year, well below analysts' expectations. Still, observers say another 200 banks are at risk of failure over the next two years.

Bucking an industry trend, Umpqua Holdings Corp. in Portland, Ore., is ramping up its commercial real estate lending to fill what it sees as a void in its markets.

FNB United Corp. in Asheboro, N.C., has met the requirements for continued listing on the Nasdaq after completing a one-for-100 reverse common stock split.

Hometown Bancorp in Kent, Ohio, has changed the name of its banking unit to Hometown Bank from Home Savings Bank.

The Federal Reserve on Tuesday announced written agreements with two banking companies.

Analysts weigh in on the prospects for FDIC-assisted bank deals in 2012.

On the verge of retirement, CEO Gary Base strikes his first-ever deal - and finds his replacement.

The outpouring of consumer anger that found an outlet in Bank Transfer Day could actually improve some banks' relationships with their customers.

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Are disgruntled shareholders trying to seize control of the board Capitol Bancorp Ltd. or at least sack all the directors in one fell swoop?

The Royal Bank of Scotland unit, as part of a larger effort to slim down, plans to put its 27 supermarket branches on Long Island up for sale soon, sources say.

Piedmont Community Bank Holdings Inc. in Raleigh, N.C., wants to up its ownership stake in Crescent Financial Corp. of Cary, N.C., and is giving Crescent shareholders more time to mull its offer.

Former Wal-Mart financial services head Jane Thompson praises the innovative customer service and design of some bank branches - especially at the now-defunct Washington Mutual Inc.

The Baltimore law firm Ober Kaler has added longtime banking attorney Andrew F. Campbell to its financial institutions practice.

Fiserv said Monday that more than a dozen financial institutions signed up for its mobile source capture product.