In a Q&A during a FIG Partners banking conference, Jack Wagner discussed growth opportunities. M&A will likely come from traditional deals rather than failed bank acquisitions. He is also keeping an eye on costs should the economy remain stalled.

Bankers have reacted well to acting FDIC chief Gruenberg's first speech since taking helm of the agency, but say actions will speak louder than words.

Deals are a beacon for hackers, who can exploit deficiencies in the systems of merging banks, their vendors or their advisors during negotiations or the integration.

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Funding costs at large institutions with big proportions of time deposits have been closing in on funding costs at peers, and maturing certificates of deposit are set to continue to buffer net interest margins.

National Bancshares Corp. in Orrville, Ohio, will promote an insider to replace David Vernon, who plans to retire as president and chief executive at the end of the year.

Ambitious Opus Bank announced Monday that it has signed lease agreements to open five new branches in California and Washington.

The Commerce Bank of Oregon, a subsidiary of Zions Bancorp., has promoted Chief Financial Officer Jodi Delahunt Hubbell to president and chief executive officer, effective Jan. 1.

While bankers complain about what's already on the books, regulators are moving on to write new "macro-prudential" rules designed to curb systemic risk.

The Treasury Department's Office of Inspector General blames the OTS in nearly of all its recent failed thrift reviews. The OCC, which inherited OTS-regulated thrifts in July, said it will make sure mistakes cited in the reports are not repeated.

Premier Bank & Trust in North Canton, Ohio, said that that Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has lifted a consent order after the bank recapitalized and addressed concerns over certain assets.

Two private-equity groups have agreed to invest a combined $100 million in a union-owned, New York bank that intends to use the proceeds to beef up its lending.

About 78% of consumers surveyed are comfortable with their banks using security cameras to improve customer service. Union Savings Bank in Danbury, Conn. is testing this concept.

American Chartered Bancorp in Schaumburg, Ill., has raised $50 million from a group of private equity firms that includes Patriot Financial Partners, Endicott Management Co. and Siena Capital Partners.

Firms controlled by mortgage bond pioneer Lewis Ranieri and billionaire investor Wilbur Ross are partnering to buy Deutsche Bank Berkshire Mortgage, a major lender to investors in U.S. apartment buildings, the companies said Monday.

A top Canadian financial regulatory official Monday warned the country's banks and other financial institutions against lowering interest rates further to spur additional borrowing by consumers.

The Atlanta Development Authority is shuttering a new homebuyer assistance program because the program's servicer, Bank of America, has decided to exit the correspondent lending business.

McGraw-Hill disclosed Monday the SEC is weighing action against its Standard & Poor's Ratings Services unit tied to its ratings for a collateralized debt obligation dating back to the financial crisis.

Conditional pricing, debt-to-equity swaps help to push M&A.