Vikram Pandit knows a thing or two about fees — he ran a hedge fund and led Citigroup Inc. as the world's biggest credit card lender. Now he's switched sides and wants to help people avoid them.

WASHINGTON – Federal bank regulators said Tuesday that they are taking steps to ease the regulatory burden on community banks by eliminating or revising certain call report line items.

Community banks could be vulnerable to increased funding costs, particularly rates tied to retail deposits. Technology, and improved modeling, could help them hold onto more deposits.

What does a small bank do when a much larger bank encroaches on its home turf?

Brayden McCarthy of Fundera contends that unfair practices are commonplace in the online lending industry, and that self-regulation is needed to protect small-business borrowers.

The credit union regulator received nearly 3,100 comment letters tied to plans to loosen restrictions on business lending, with a vast majority opposing any changes.

Community 1st Bank in Auburn, Calif., has named Kevin Watson chief financial officer.

First Internet Bank is pioneering eye-vein recognition to let customers log in to its mobile app, hoping consumers' distinct concerns about this form of biometric authentication fade away.

Two Nebraska mutuals that share a name, Home Federal Savings and Loan Association, have agreed to merge.

Randolph Savings Bank in Massachusetts has agreed to buy First Eastern Bankshares in Andover, Mass.

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First National Bank in Howell, Mich., has named a former Midwestern bank executive to its board.

NexTier in Butler, Pa., has agreed to buy Eureka Financial in Pittsburgh.

DCB Financial has agreed to sell its headquarters in Lewis Center, Ohio, for $8.2 million.

First Dakota National Bank in Yankton, S.D., has agreed to buy Dakota State Bank in Blunt, S.D.

Some institutions, such as Amalgamated Bank in New York, are voluntarily raising wages for tellers and other workers, while banks in cities such as Seattle and Los Angeles are being forced to pay more by municipal ordinances.

Summit State Bank in Santa Rosa, Calif., has exited the Small Business Lending Fund.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s second-quarter industry update showed steadily rising loan balances making up for persistently tight net interest margins.

Lead Bank in Kansas City, Mo., is poised to open a special branch designed for millennial entrepreneurs. Not only can these commercial customers bank in the techie, garage-like space, but they can actually work there, too.

Talented lenders and anxious clients should expect a full-court press from Pennsylvania's community banks as they look to take market share from of the state's newcomer.