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.

SVB Financial Group in Santa Clara, Calif., has appointed a former U.S. Treasury official to its board.

Nearly 100% of all urban riots in America have occurred where the market economy either failed or didn't exist to begin with. Banks are well positioned to help bring economic opportunity to underserved neighborhoods and make free enterprise work for all.

First Bank in Hamilton, N.J., has opened its first office in Pennsylvania.

Triumph Bancshares in Memphis says it has been mistakenly contacted by customers of Triumph Bancorp in Dallas, and has concluded that the Triumph moniker isn't big enough for both institutions. It's hoping a lawsuit will force the Texas bank to change its name.

The chief executive of CertusBank in Greenville, S.C., has officially stepped down after undergoing heart surgery.

Presidio Bank in San Francisco has added longtime California banking executive James Westfall to its board of directors. He will serve on the bank's audit and asset liability committees.

MoneyGram has renewed its relationship with Minnesota's Bremer Bank to assist with its check services.

All banks must manage risk. But this needn't be their sole focus any more than a restaurateur's sole purpose should be to prevent contaminants from getting into food.