Merger-and-acquisition activity may be slow in most regions of the country, but it is picking up steam in California.

Dalhart Federal Savings & Loan Association will convert to a state-charted bank in Texas in response to the Office of Thrift Supervision's merger into the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

Several of the nation's largest financial services firms have teamed to recapitalize the ailing Carver Bancorp, which has been under an enforcement order since March to boost its capital ratios.

As regulators continue to develop rules on a Dodd-Frank requirement to force most derivatives to be centrally traded, lawmakers heard from a slew of firms on Wednesday that are jockeying for position in the marketplace.

Renasant said the deal will increase its wealth management and trust assets under management and advisement to about $1.5 billion.

West Bancorp. In West Des Moines, Iowa, said late Wednesday that it exited the Troubled Asset Relief Program. The $1.3 billion-asset company said it was able to redeem $36 million in preferred stock without having to borrow any money or issue stock.

Macatawa Bank Corp. in Holland, Mich., has closed on a $10.25 million of common equity in public offering and now should have enough capital to satisfy its regulatory order.

BankAtlantic Bancorp Inc. continues to assert that it will be a survivor even after its latest effort to raise capital fell short of expectations.

Private-equity groups and other have investors have committed roughly $515 million to recapitalize the ailing First BanCorp in San Juan, P.R., setting the stage for the $15 billion-asset company to convert its preferred stock owned by the Treasury Department into common stock.

CenterState Banks Inc. in Davenport, Fla., has sold off a chunk of nonperforming loans in a deal that it says would free up capital that it could use for future expansion.

First PacTrust Bancorp in Chula Vista, Calif., said late Tuesday that it expects to raise about $31.5 million from selling common stock.

The struggling Anchor BanCorp Wisconsin reported a loss of $21.7 million for the quarter that ended March 31, narrowing losses by 27% from a year earlier.

First BanCorp struck a deal with Oaktree Capital Management L.P. for a roughly $175.5 million investment, marking the completion of the bank's effort to raise more than $500 million in fresh capital.

Acquiring banks have agreed to resolve the unpaid Tarp funds of target institutions, bringing the number of such deals to 16 with the vast majority taking place since mid-2010.

The $135 billion-asset company plans to use the branch to provide financing, syndicated lending and foreign-exchange trading, the Fed said in a press release Tuesday.

Lawmakers sided with community banks on Tuesday in expressing concern that a pending risk retention rule and other new regulations will soon drive small institutions from the mortgage business.

The Fed announced written agreements with four banking companies: Southern Community (N.C.), First Community (Texas), First Chatsworth (Ga.) and First National (Ala.)

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Despite pleas by the credit union lobby, Gov. Scott Walker signed a state budget bill with a measure making it easier for credit unions to convert to banks.

Richard M. Riccobono, the former chief executive at the Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle and one-time deputy director at the Office of Thrift Supervision, has landed a new job as the chief banking regulator in Washington State.