The Greek debt crisis and China's stock-market crash may put downward pressure on interest rates and delay the Fed's interest rate hike, and they are adding uncertainty at a time when lenders thought recovery would be taking hold.

The Fed determined that the purchase of Susquehanna Bancshares, which would push BB&T's assets above $200 billion, will not pose a threat to the U.S. financial system. The approval could give more regional banks confidence to pursue bigger acquisitions.

Americas United Bank in Glendale, Calif., has agreed to buy two branches from Banc of California in Irvine.

A credit review, along with concerns about certain change-in-control agreements, led Southwest Bancorp last summer to terminate a letter of intent to buy First Commercial Bancshares. The banks revisited the deal months later — at a lower premium — after First Commercial addressed the issues.

Premier Financial Bancorp in Huntington, W. Va., has agreed to buy First National Bankshares in Ronceverte, W. Va.

While hiring a chief risk officer is a given at the big banks, smaller institutions must weigh several factors and options in determining the risk leadership model that works for them.

Suffolk Bancorp in Riverhead, N.Y. has promoted Anita J. Nigrel to executive vice president and chief retail officer, a newly created position, effective Monday.

First National Corp. in Strasburg, Va., has a new bank president. The $530 million-asset company said in a press release Monday that Dennis Dysart would also remain chief operating officer of First Bank.

National Bank Holdings in Greenwood Village, Colo., plans to repurchase as much as $100 million of its common stock.

Community banks that try to serve too broad an array of customers will wind up losing out to larger competitors. They would do better to focus on one or two customer segments and familiarize themselves with those groups' specific habits and needs.

Yadkin Financial in Elkin, N.C., will pay its former leader $2.2 million over the next year as part of an ongoing management transition.

First National Bankers Bankshares in Baton Rouge, La., has agreed to buy Independent Bankers' Bank of Florida for $1.9 million.

Salin Bank & Trust in Indianapolis has named a new chief executive after Bill Salin II, son of the bank's founder, announced his retirement.

BOK Financial has hired Glenn Brunker to oversee mortgage operations and manage the bank's transition to a new federally-required consolidated mortgage disclosure regime.

Cadence Bank in Birmingham, Ala., has closed three branches in Alabama and plans to close five more in Mississippi and Texas, the Birmingham News reported.

Providence Bank in Columbia, Mo., has acquired Community First Bancorp in Fairview Heights, Ill.

Diane Bailey Morton was named the $1.6 billion-asset C1's chief human capital officer and general counsel, while Dustin Symes will head up retail lending operations.

The former FDIC chairman said during a recent conference call that banks with a traditional model — essentially community banks — have been hurt by the Fed's interest rate policy and the trickle-down tactics of regulation.

First Choice Bank, in Cerritos, Calif., has raised $30 million from a secondary stock offering.

South Shore Bank in South Weymouth, Mass., has named new chief executive and chief operating officers.