Wintrust Financial in Rosemont, Ill., reported first-quarter earnings of $39.1 million, up 13% from a year earlier, as loans increased and mortgage revenue rose.

Home BancShares in Conway, Ark., reported higher first-quarter profit and assets after it acquired branches and loans from the failed Doral Bank in Puerto Rico.

PacWest Bancorp reported higher quarterly profit, as loan growth and lower expenses offset credit issues in the Los Angeles company's energy portfolio.

First Dakota National Bank in Yankton, S.D., has agreed to buy a branch from HF Financial in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Heartland Financial in Dubuque, Iowa, has agreed to buy Community Bancorp. of New Mexico in Santa Fe.

Some industry observers argue that bank consolidation is driven by economies of scale rather than by the regulatory burdens imposed under Dodd-Frank. But the two factors actually go hand in hand.

Hamilton Bancorp in Towson, Md., has agreed to buy Fairmount Bancorp in Baltimore.

Umpqua Holdings in Portland, Ore., posted lower profit from a quarter earlier, largely reflecting a decline in net interest income.

Security California Bancorp in Riverside, Calif., has agreed to buy a branch from Rabobank.

IF Bancorp in Watseka, Ill., has selected the successor for its retiring president and chief executive.

Westamerica Bancorp. is delaying its plan to shutter a small branch in Upper Lake, Calif., to give community leaders more time to convince another bank or credit union to set up shop there.

Bank of the Ozarks could raise more capital, especially if a rising number of unfunded loans convert to funded credits. Management is also keeping an eye on credit quality, raising certain standards and selling some syndicated loans.

Westamerica Bancorp.'s profits fell again in the first quarter as a result of management's decision to shrink its loan portfolio and load up on lower-yielding investment securities

Boston Private Financial Holdings and its bank have shuffled some key executive posts.

FDIC Vice Chairman Tom Hoenig outlined a new measure to grant reg relief, one based on activity rather than size. While his vision would grant 94% of banks substantial relief, he objected, however, to exempting institutions from the Volcker Rule.

MasterCard Inc. and Target Corp. are in talks about a settlement in which the retailer would pay banks about $20 million for costs they incurred in its 2013 data breach, a person familiar with the matter said.

More than 70 banks are set to hit their seventh anniversary this year, crossing a threshold where they will have reduced regulatory scrutiny and relaxed capital ratios. While many are excited about the potential to growth, they are aiming to do so carefully.

PacWest Bancorp in Los Angeles announced Tuesday that Chief Financial Officer Victor Santoro plans to retire from the post this summer and West Coast banking veteran Patrick Rusnak will succeed him in that role.

Sound Financial Bancorp in Seattle has selected a former Fannie Mae executive to join its board.

Even small U.S. banks can end up doing business with institutions all across the world, but here are some jurisdictions were doing so is either outright forbidden or requires additional scrutiny.