Dime Community and Flushing Financial are selling real estate in the borough, taking advantage of rising real estate prices. The banks are using process to reinvest in branches and technology.

Friendly Hills Bank in Whittier, Calif., has started offering payroll services to its clients.

All banks truly believe they provide spectacular, top-notch service. But the vast majority hover close to mediocre and lack the metrics to identify areas for improvement.

First Foundation in Irvine, Calif., has launched a division to offer property and casualty insurance brokerage services.

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon defended his institution by arguing that size isn't necessarily an indicator of risk. But the truth is that the larger an organization gets, the more complex it becomes-and the more difficult it is for leaders to keep everything from customer service to fraud prevention working the way it should.

Seacoast Banking Corp. of Florida in Stuart has acquired First Growth Capital, a firm that handles receivables funding.

The Bancorp in Wilmington, Del., has again delayed the filing of its 2014 annual report and is also late in submitting its first-quarter results, it said in a news release Friday.

A recap of the informed opinions (and the discussions they generated) on BankThink this week, including the financial inequalities exposed by the Baltimore riots and whether the changes to Dodd-Frank proposed in Sen. Richard Shelby's regulatory relief plan go too far.

Hamilton State Bancshares in Hoschton, Ga., has agreed to acquire the $130 million-asset Highland Financial Services in Marietta, Ga.

Heartland Financial USA in Dubuque, Iowa, has agreed to buy First Scottsdale Bank in Arizona.

Visa will increase how much it reimburses banks to issue new cards compromised by merchants' data breaches, after some banks complained that the card network's payments were too low.

The Miami area's economy is on the rebound and expanding beyond sun and fun. A new influx of money, investors and customers with international ties could feed local banks' balance sheets and top-line growth.

NCUA announced Friday it approved a federal charter for another credit union — the Seneca Nation of Indians FCU — which will serve members of the Seneca Nation Indian tribe in western New York state.

Julie Sizer has been named chief bank operations officer at First Citizens Bank in Raleigh, N.C.

Prudential Bancorp in Philadelphia is setting the stage for a new chief executive.

It's difficult to draw useful lessons from a small pilot, since banks typically stack the deck for success. Trying out new projects at average locations that serve average customers can give banks a much better picture of the obstacles that lie ahead.

Eastern Virginia Bankshares in Tappahannock has repurchased a warrant from the Treasury Department tied to the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Prosperity Bancshares in Houston has named a new president.

Vendors that specialize in Bank Secrecy Act compliance can help ease community banks' regulatory burden while strengthening their controls.

WashingtonFirst Bankshares in Reston, Va., has agreed to buy direct mortgage lender 1st Portfolio Holding Corp. in Fairfax, Va.