Sterling Bancorp in Montebello, N.Y., plans to raise $105 million in a debt sale to fuel potential acquisitions of commercial lenders.

Nandita Bakhshi and Ellen Alemany discuss strategy; Beth Mooney strikes a deal; a Lehman Sister recounts her experience as a woman at the top of Wall Street in its doomsday; and HSBC sets a goal to have equal gender representation in certain areas by 2020. Plus, some interesting research on equal pay for women, and good grief, Raymond Moore.

American Banker readers share their views on the most pressing banking topics of the week. Comments are excerpted from reader response sections of AmericanBanker.com articles and our social media platforms.

Roughly 90 banks that participated in the government's lending program still owe money to the Treasury Department and face a massive dividend increase. Many of those could view selling as a better alternative to raising new capital.

Jefferson Security Bank in Shepherdstown, W.Va., has promoted Cynthia Kitner from chief financial officer to chief executive.

Not all energy loans are created equal. For a host of reasons, oilfield services loans are more risky than other types of energy loans, according to Megan Snyder, an analyst with Moody's.

Cash may still be king when it comes to small purchases, but debit cards are threatening to end its reign, according to survey results announced Wednesday by CreditCards.com.

Fentura Financial in Fenton, Mich., has agreed to buy Community Bancorp in St. Charles, Mich.

The former chief executive of a failed bank in Lincoln, Neb., was sentenced to 11 years in prison for forming a scheme to hide more than $100 million in losses from shareholders and regulators.

Carolina Trust Bank in Lincolnton, N.C., has revised downward its fourth-quarter results because of accounting changes related to its retirement plan and an acquisition from years ago.

Seacoast Banking Corp. of Florida in Stuart has reached an agreement with an activist investor after signs had emerged of a potential proxy battle.

The New York State Appellate Division of the Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that the activist investor Joseph Stilwell cannot force NorthEast Community Bancorp in White Plains, N.Y., to convert to a fully stock-owned bank.

TriCo Bancshares in Chico, Calif., paid a lower deposit premium for its purchase of Bank of America branches after deposit levels at those offices fell.

A number of banks are on pace this year to surpass $10 billion in assets, which would subject them to heightened regulatory requirements such as stress tests and interchange fee caps. Several institutions have already announced big deals to cross that threshold. Here are 10 banks that could do the same.

Northwest Bancshares in Warren, Pa., has agreed to buy Best Insurance Agency, an employee benefits and property and casualty insurance firm in Butler, Pa.

Central Bancshares in Muscatine, Iowa, has agreed to buy Brimfield Bank in Brimfield, Ill.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has implemented a new rule that broadens the ability of lenders in rural and underserved areas to originate qualified mortgages.

California Republic Bancorp, which has been aggressively originating and securitizing auto loans for years, is keen on revving up the engine to expand from a 10-state area to a national platform.

ChoiceOne Financial Services in Sparta, Mich., will begin work on remodeling its bank's headquarters in May.

South State in Columbia, S.C., has promoted one of its executives to become chief executive of its bank.