A California bank is planning to add mortgages and home equity lines to its product set.

SmartFinancial in Knoxville, Tenn., has agreed to buy a branch in Tennessee from a division of Atlantic Capital Bank in Atlanta.

Lakeland Bancorp in Oak Ridge, N.J., has filed the paperwork to sell up to $50 million shares of common stock.

The new chairman of Republic First was famously ousted from Commerce Bancorp because of conflict-of-interest concerns years ago. His new bank uses some Hill-related companies for marketing and other services but says that it has structured the relationship in a way that passes muster with regulators.

The $22 billion-asset company said in a press release Thursday that it is looking to sell 8.4 million shares of common stock, though it could sell another 840,000 shares if there is enough demand.

A dozen publicly traded banks have raised more than $1 billion in recent weeks, taking advantage of surging stock prices. Additional banks are expected to follow, setting the stage for more M&A and other growth moves.

Already defending itself against a lawsuit challenging its member business lending rule, the credit union regulator now must grapple with a challenge to field-of-membership regulations. Some observers suggest the scope of the legal approach is unprecedented.

When BankMobile, the brainchild of Jay Sidhu and his daughter Luvleen, relaunches on a new platform in January, security — especially for the onboarding process — will be completely redesigned.

First Bancshares in Hattiesburg, Miss., has exited the Troubled Asset Relief Program, thanks partly to an assist from another bank.

AltaPacific Bancorp in Santa Rosa, Calif., has promoted its chief operating officer an even bigger role.

The post-election rise in stock prices has been a boon for investors, but it is also causing notable changes for financial institutions. Here are a number of ways that the rally can help — and hurt — the banking industry.

The $1.2 billion-asset NexTier said in a press release Wednesday that it will pay $2.3 million, or $531.55 a share, in cash for the $40 million-asset Manor.

Community banks are increasingly looking to fintech firms as a way to offer customers the tech they want in order to be competitive.

Allegiance Bancshares in Houston has recruited a new chief financial officer.

Customers Bancorp of Wyomissing, Pa., has entered into a cease-and-desist order with the Federal Reserve related to the student disbursements business it bought from Higher One Holdings. It also agreed to pay a civil penalty of $960,000.

The $3.5 billion-asset company submitted a shelf registration that lets it sell common stock, preferred stock, debt securities and warrants, among other things.

The American Bankers Association has filed a lawsuit against the National Credit Union Administration, arguing that the regulator's new field-of-membership rule go too far.

Pacific Financial in Aberdeen, Wash., is looking for a new chief credit officer.

PrivateBancorp in Chicago has postponed a special meeting where investors were set to vote on its sale to Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce amid growing concern that investors could reject the deal.

Old National Bancorp in Evansville, Ind., has shuffled its corporate finance department, promoting four executives to new or expanded roles.