Four Oaks Fincorp in Four Oaks, N.C., has refinanced $11.5 million in subordinated debt.

The physical branch network is not dead, but to ensure its viability banks need to get serious about trimming it down and combining branches with digital channels.

Nine former officers and directors accused of hiding problems at Superior Bank in Birmingham, Ala., will pay more than $1 million in penalties as part of settlements with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

BankUnited of Miami Lakes, Fla., has exited the retail mortgage origination channel. It originated loans through its retail banking branches in Florida and New York.

American National Bankshares in Danville, Va., has named Cathy Liles its chief accounting officer.

Middlesex Savings Bank in Natick, Mass., has promoted a senior banker to chief commercial credit officer.

There is a growing belief that reserves for energy loans should represent 5% of a bank's exposure to the sector. Three banks have already announced plans to move in that direction, prompting speculation as to which other lenders will be next.

The opportunity for banks from the dramatic growth in deposits goes beyond just funding loans.

Codorus Valley Bancorp in York, Pa., will soon have a new leader for its bank.

Having shored up capital following the financial crisis, many banks are flush with cash and in search of ways to put it to use. One option for banks that did sale-leasebacks in the past is to reacquire their branches.

Valley National Bank in Wayne, N.J., has a new chief administrative officer.

Chris Bauer, who navigated Anchor BanCorp through bankruptcy and an IPO, will stay with Old National in an unspecified role. Old National, meanwhile, has added Wisconsin to the list of states where it is looking for acquisitions.

Mary Kay Bates, who had been chief operating officer in January 2014, was promoted to president of the $724 million-asset bank in Spirit Lake, Iowa.

Bridgewater Bank in Bloomington, Minn., has agreed to buy First National Bank of the Lakes in Orono, Minn.

Old National Bancorp in Evansville, Ind., has agreed to buy Anchor BanCorp Wisconsin in Madison.

Consumers increasingly fell behind on their payments in several loan categories in the third quarter as economic growth cooled.

Raising capital has been tough for community banks ever since the financial crisis, especially the smallest ones. But a few firms have developed structured products that offer banks a chance to band together to raise needed Tier 1 capital at relatively low cost, while avoiding the regulatory ire that befell trust-preferred securities.

Old Fort Banking in Tiffin, Ohio, has sold a controlling interest to its employees. The Old Fort Employees Stock Ownership and 401(k) plan bought a 45% stake in Gillmor Financial Services, the holding company for the $471 million-asset Old Fort.

DNB Financial in Downingtown, Pa., said its chairman and chief executive, William Latoff, has died. He was 67.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. is using outdated methodologies to define "brokered deposits," stigmatizing stable sources of funding and forcing banks to pay higher premiums, according to bankers and several outside groups.