A number of community banks have gotten into government-backed small-business lending by buying firms or poaching talent. While the business seems lucrative now, there are concerns that too many banks may be jumping into the pool.

TotalBank in Miami said it has promoted Jay Pelham to president, succeeding Luis de la Aguilera, who left the company in December to lead U.S. Century Bank in Doral, Fla.

Labor-intensive cross-marketing programs, which were beyond the scope of small marketing departments, are suddenly feasible thanks to automation.

Mackinac Financial in Manistique, Mich., has agreed to buy First National Bank of Eagle River in Wisconsin.

First Midwest Bancorp in Itasca, Ill., plans to close branches and sell unwanted real estate as customers shift to online banking.

The former chief marketing officer of the failed Mirae Bank in Los Angeles was arrested following an eight-count indictment stemming from alleged loan fraud.

Payne, who was promoted from director of corporate risk services, began her new role Jan. 1. She succeeded Dave Kling, who retired, the $18 billion-asset bank said.

Drafting internal honor codes, and having employees pledge to follow them, could be a good first step to reversing negative opinions about banking.

Acquirers are starting to look more closely at a seller’s commitment to cybersecurity to avoid reputational and operational risk.

Royal Financial in Chicago has agreed to buy Park Bancorp in Chicago.

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The $22 billion-asset Winstrust said in a press release Thursday that it will pay $30 million in cash for the parent of the $125 million-asset Foundations Bank.

First Business Financial Services in Madison, Wis., said it has hired Edward Sloane Jr. to be its next chief financial officer.

Firstrust Bank has signed a marketing deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, even though the NBA team plays in an arena emblazoned with the name of another bank — and will until 2024.

Metropolitan Commercial Bank in New York has named Dale Fredston, a former general counsel at Sterling Bancorp in Montebello, N.Y., to its board of directors.

Peter Humphrey, who stepped down as Financial Institutions’ CEO in 2012, said he supports a push by activist investor Clover Partners to force the company to find a buyer. Humphrey left the company’s board in 2014.

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.