Premier Bancshares in Omaha, Neb., has agreed to buy Farmers Bank and Trust in Nebraska City.

Two community banks on Tuesday disclosed plans to raise capital by selling subordinated debt.

Management training programs are slowly returning to smaller banks decades after belt-tightening led to their demise. Rigorous regulatory scrutiny, combined with a need for improved risk management and increased income, are spurring the comeback.

Lenders have purged bad loans and low interest rates are fueling new projects. Yet many bankers still view C&D loans as risky and are eager to stress that they will steer clear of the boom.

Premara Financial in Charlotte, N.C., has a new chief executive.

TowneBank in Hampton Roads, Va., reported a lower quarterly profit due to higher costs tied to its recent acquisitions.

For the 5th consecutive year, American Banker and Discover are proud to sponsor the Young Women's Leadership Award, a college scholarship given to graduating high school seniors who have demonstrated leadership potential and are the first generation in their family to attend college. We're looking for women who work in banking or finance to serve on the Young Women's Leadership Award Advisory Board.

Bank managers can motivate their teams to make sales without forcing them to pounce on customers the moment they walk in the door.

Banner Corp. in Walla Walla, Wash., has lowered its fourth-quarter profit due to an adjustment to the its provision for income taxes.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. issued five consent orders in December, according to the agency's most recent summary of enforcement actions.

Three recent deals involving midsize sellers have gone far reversing regional bankers' fears of M&A. Still, the real evidence of progress must involve seeing those deals close.

Peoples Community National Bank in Bremen, Ga., has changed its name and logo.

Kentucky First Federal Bancorp is merging its two banks.

Opus Bank in Irvine, Calif., has received regulatory approval to form a broker-dealer subsidiary that will expand its merchant banking capabilities.

BB&T in Winston-Salem, N.C., has received regulatory approval to buy Citigroup's remaining branches in Texas.

CertusBank in Greenville, S.C., lost nearly $70 million last year.

Old National Bancorp in Evansville, Ind., has agreed to sell a total of 17 branches in Indiana, Illinois and Ohio to First Mid-Illinois Bancshares and MainSource Financial Group.

The Seminole Tribe of Florida has withdrawn its agreement to buy Mackinac Savings Bank in Boynton Beach, Fla., and may instead try to open a credit union.

Investors Bancorp in Short Hills, N.J., reported higher quarterly income thanks to a combination of acquisitions and organic growth.

Puppy Bowl fans, keep your TVs turned to Animal Planet on Sunday. FirstBank's new ad campaign was made with you in mind — sort of.