The investment banking firm Sterne Agee & Leach recently studied 16 bank mergers that involve sellers with market capitalizations of $100 million to $5 billion. The sellers share a number of characteristics in common. Here are seven important ones.

Stilwell Group has terminated a standstill agreement reached with Malvern Bancorp in Paoli, Pa., saying it was no longer necessary after meeting with Malvern's new CEO, Anthony Weagley.

A recent report from Sterne Agee included a list of banks with similar traits to sellers in pending deals. Such traits, including aging CEOs and substandard returns, could portend future sellers.

The American Bankers Association has added 12 banks to community banks indexed and listed with the Nasdaq stock exchange.

BNC Bancorp in High Point, N.C., and CU Bancorp in Encino, Calif., have completed two previously announced acquisitions.

The Freedom Bank of Virginia has extended the deadline for its $4 million stock offering in response to investors' requests for more time.

National Bank Holdings in Greenwood Village, Colo., has announced the retirement of director Lawrence Fish.

Summit Community Bank in Moorefield, W.Va., said Wednesday that it has shed an enforcement action and completed the first portion of its private placement with Castle Creek Capital Partners.

The growing influence of two directors known for seeking big changes at other banks has raised questions about whether Naugatuck Valley Financial in Connecticut may be put up for sale.

Webster Financial in Waterbury, Conn., has received regulatory approval to acquire the health savings account business of JPMorgan Chase.

First Foundation Bank in Irvine, Calif., has agreed to buy Pacific Rim Bank in Honolulu.

Two community banks recently were permitted to transfer cash to their holding companies. It could be a sign that regulators are changing their attitudes toward such payments now that banks have healthier capital levels.

Bank of Bird-in-Hand in Pennsylvania has hired a president and chief executive.

Liberty Bell Bank in Marlton, N.J., has appointed a new chief executive as it continues to work through credit issues.

FDIC third quarter report shows pop in loan buybacks and indemnifications.

University Bancorp in Ann Arbor, Mich., agreed to acquire the 20% stake in Midwest Loan Services that it doesn't already own for about $3.1 million in stock, cash and other considerations.

Banks and thrifts earned $38.7 billion in the third quarter, a 7.3% increase from a year earlier but slightly down from the $40.1 billion earned in the second quarter, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said Tuesday.

Millennials frequent independent coffee shops and farmers markets, so it stands to reason they'll see the appeal in community banks. Meanwhile, smaller lenders can court young people by appealing to their entrepreneurial spirit.

Growing income inequality is said to be a major reason most consumers plan to spend the same or less than last year on holiday shopping, and it could hurt bank and credit union revenues in the fourth quarter and present them other long-term challenges.

In Bangladesh, the microfinance pioneer operates as profitable bank. But the U.S. arm, which lacks a banking license, is pursuing a different strategy.