The heads of banks are resistant to analytics and data-driven decisions in general, according to a new survey, yet embrace them in limited uses.

UMB Bank's strong fee revenue and cheap deposits give it leeway to compete on loan pricing, employing a strategy often used by much larger banks. Mike Hagedorn, the 100-year-old bank's chief executive, also discussed UMB's renewed interest in disciplined M&A.

Crazy Woman Creek Bancorp in Buffalo, Wyo., has exited the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

First Savings Bank of Perkasie in Perkasie, Pa., has agreed to merge with First Federal of Bucks County in Bristol, Pa.

Independent Bank Corp. in Rockland, Mass., has raised $35 million by issuing debt.

First National Corp. in Strasburg, Va., has agreed to buy six branches in Virginia from Bank of America.

Silicon Valley Bank, based in Santa Clara, Calif., has selected 18 students from colleges around the country to participate in its inaugural SVB Trek, a program connecting students to West Coast tech leaders, including entrepreneurs and venture capitalists.

Steven Sugarman, chief executive at Banc of California, recently completed a large branch acquisition after a public battle with an advocacy group. In a recent interview, he discussed that process as well as the bank's busy year — both the good and the bad.

First Financial Bancorp in Cincinnati has shuffled its C-Suite and appointed a new president.

First Financial Northwest in Renton, Wash., has gotten regulatory approval to receive a $70 million dividend from its bank unit.

Carver Bancorp in New York said Deborah Wright will retire as chief executive at the end of the year. The company's current president will succeed her.

In-store branches are a good example of the quandaries in retail banking. BOK Financial calls them outdated and has decided to ditch them, but Huntington and Fifth Third say they are high-volume sources of new accounts.

John Hairston, set to become the Mississippi company's sole CEO, said Carl Chaney was not forced out as co-CEO. Still, he said the departure allows Hancock to streamline operations and become more efficient.

MSB Financial Corp., a mutual thrift firm in Millington, N.J., plans to reorganize into a fully stock-owned company.

First Horizon National in Memphis, Tenn., is looking to raise $400 million by issuing debt.

California Republic Bancorp in Irvine, Calif., has raised $90 million through an offering of equity and debt.

Wells Financial in Wells, Minn., has agreed to buy St. James Federal Savings and Loan Association in St. James, Minn.

BNC Bancorp in High Point, N.C., has agreed to buy Valley Financial in Roanoke, Va.

A number of credit union and bank executives have been ignoring the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cyber Security, waiting for the federal government to issue more definitive guidance.

John A. Allison writes in his new book that he feared for years that predecessors of Wachovia or Bank of America would try and force BB&T to sell itself. In this excerpt, he explains how he kept the banking giants at bay. Part 5 of 5.