Congressional Bancshares in Bethesda, Md., has received regulatory and shareholder approval to acquire American Bank in Rockville, Md.

Middlesex Savings Bank in Natick. Mass., has promoted its chief commercial banking officer to president and named him successor to the chief executive.

Security Bancorp prefers the local feel of having six banks in western Tennessee, even if it leads to more regulatory burden.

It was a celebration more than anything else, but the honorees at American Banker's annual Most Powerful Women in Banking and Finance dinner Thursday had plenty to say on themes that are sure to resonate.

Turmoil in energy markets significantly influenced the sale of Tradition Bancshares in Houston.

Pat Callahan received high marks for her handling of the Wachovia acquisition — the largest in banking history — but it was her influence on Wells Fargo's diversity policies and sustainability practices that stand as perhaps the greatest achievement of her 38-year career.

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.

There's no such thing as a typical day for the Most Powerful Women in Banking and Finance, but these glimpses offer insight into "A Day in the Life" of some of these executives.

Allegiance Bancshares expects to raise about $54.6 million in its initial public offering, as the Houston company priced the offering more than two years after expressing interest in going public.

Rabobank in Roseville, Calif., has lined up its next president and chief executive.

Buyers of securitized loans sue Lynn Tilton, the Pittsburgh Home Loan bank's Kristina Williams advises women executives on leveling the playing field, ex-Ally Bank chief Barbara Yastine joins a wealth management firm and Google's Ruth Porat warns about the economic threat posed by mounting student loan debt.

Mechanics Bank in Walnut Creek, Calif., has named three senior financial executives, about five months after a Dallas investment group acquired a majority stake.

The Pennsylvania company said in a recent filing that its board also looked at succession planning, service provider relationships, board expansion and financial forecasts before seeking bids and agreeing to sell to F.N.B. Corp.

Old National said that by owning the branches instead of leasing them, it would have greater control of the properties, classify the branches as assets on its balance sheet and become more efficient.

Avoid viewing millennials as a monolithic group. Consider parsing them into subgroups such as affluent, homebuyers, entrepreneurs and savers. The smarter move may be removing the age bracket blinders entirely.

It started out as a chat over dinner and cocktails between a director of Trans Pacific National Bank and Dr. Robert Murray, a part-time physician for the San Francisco Giants.

Royal Bank of Canada has received approval from the Federal Reserve Board to buy City National in Los Angeles.

Dime Community Bancshares in Brooklyn, N.Y., has agreed to sell a number of real estate properties for $80 million.

The $1.5 billion-asset bank issued $25 million of subordinated notes due 2025 in a private placement. WashingtonFirst used the proceeds to redeem $8.9 million in SBLF preferred shares, which it issued to the Treasury Department in 2011.

Traditional banks avoid the short-term-credit market because its customers demand a level of customer service that is inconsistent with current models of retail banking, the head of a payday lending group writes.