A top Democratic lawmaker said Wednesday that the compliance burdens placed on small and medium sized banks outweigh the risks they pose to the financial system.

Spring is here, making it a good time to review banks' wide-ranging marketing efforts at all levels of baseball, from the majors to college.

The economy has improved, and banks are doing a better job of making money, but activist investors are still putting pressure on certain community banks. Here is an overview of banks that are facing proxy battles in coming months.

While a number of community banks are preparing for lock horns with dissident shareholders, a bank in Indiana managed to work with an activist to avoid a nasty brouhaha.

Southern Missouri Bancorp in Poplar Bluff has filed to sell $20 million in preferred stock it issued to the Treasury Department as part of the Small Business Lending Fund.

Amalgamated Bank of Chicago has sold its headquarters building for $35 million.

American Savings Bank in Honolulu has agreed to a proposed $2 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit tied to its overdraft fees on debit card and ATM transactions.

Investors expected rates to increase last year. When they didn't, it showed up everywhere: stock prices, earnings estimates and banks' decisions to sell or go public. In a wide-ranging interview, KBW CEO Thomas Michaud reflects on what turned out to be a good year for M&A, what is driving deals and his firm's role in bringing companies together.

Federal regulators on Tuesday pushed back against the perception that they are cracking down harder on Bank Secrecy Act violations, saying they have not made recent changes to the rules or how they enforce them.

WASHINGTON — House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, announced a vote for Thursday of 11 bills aimed at lessening regulatory burden on banks by changing aspects of the Dodd-Frank Act and associated regulations.

Poage Bankshares in Ashland, Ky., has named Daniel King 3rd as its chairman.

AmeriServ Financial in Johnstown, Pa., has a new chief executive.

Carolina Alliance Bank in Spartanburg, S.C., has agreed to buy PBSC Financial in Greenville, S.C.

While many small banks are hoping Congress will grant regulatory relief this year, mutual institutions are seeking two specific changes they hope can bolster their struggling business.

Community Bank Shares of Indiana in New Albany has registered to sell stock on behalf of several investors.

Metro Bancorp has a little more breathing room after an activist investor withdrew one of its two nominees for the Harrisburg, Pa., company’s board.

The $1.1 billion-asset company filed a shelf registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission late last week that will allow it to sell securities and issue debt.

Regulatory approval of Primary Bank in New Hampshire does not make a trend, but observers are hopeful it signals a more promising near future for the chartering of new banks.

Sterne Agee's investment bank was among the most active last year, handling 18 deals. But the parent company's pending sale is leaving observers wondering what will happen to the people who shepherded those transactions.

Cathay General Bancorp in Los Angeles has given some executives important additional duties.