VersaBank plans to use the one-branch Stearns Bank Holdingford in Minnesota as a platform to expand a lucrative niche business acquiring loan and lease receivables from point-of-sale lenders.

There were 27 bank acquisitions worth $5.45 billion announced in the second quarter as of mid-June. That was more than the $5.2 billion combined value of deals announced over the previous five quarters.

This year Texas banks dominated American Banker's annual list of the top-performing larger community banks. See which institution came in at No. 1 for this asset class.

The best-performing larger Main Street Banks, those in the $2 billion to $10 billion asset class, were asset sensitive, a position that worked to their advantage as rates continued to climb in 2023.

Vancouver, Washington's Riverview Bancorp announces Nicole Sherman as its next president and CEO; Happauge, New York-based Dime Community Bancshares is expanding its deposits strategy to Manhattan; UBS hires Guggenheim banker Ananya Das; and more in this week's banking news roundup.

PeoplesBank and Cornerstone Bank entered into an agreement to combine their holding companies in a deal slated to close early in 2025. The banks would continue to operate separately.

During the nine years Kevin Riley led the Billings, Montana-based institution, it quadrupled its size, largely through deals. New leadership could mean that the company focuses less on M&A and more on integration.

MC Bancshares and Heritage NOLA Bancorp announced plans to combine in 2023, but the companies called off the deal after difficulties securing approvals. It amplified what an analyst called the "ever-present risk" of examiner scrutiny.

IntraFi has joined two banking industry trade groups spearheading an effort to source large institutional deposits at small, cash-starved CDFI and MDI banks.

The bank said it would reduce its physical footprint by nearly 15% as part of an effort to reduce overlapping operations, drive cost savings and meet profitability targets tied to its May acquisition of Lakeland Bancorp.

Legislation enabling new banklike stablecoin issuers would create direct competition for deposits, with small U.S. banks in the most danger. Where is the pushback from the industry?

Dickinson Financial in Missouri has no intention of departing from its expansionary mindset as it lays plans for de novo branches and scouts new acquisition opportunities.

Investors homed in on the benefits of positive economic data for lenders, rather than the possibility of a strong job market delaying interest rate cuts that would help to lower deposit costs and boost credit demand.

This year a California bank takes the No. 1 spot on American Banker's annual list of the best performing community banks.

Though hard times put a dent in profitability, asset quality and net interest margin continued to shine among the list of the best performing publicly traded community banks.