The Vernon Hill-led bank is being buffeted by a board rebellion, a lawsuit and a burgeoning proxy fight all tied to the complaints of two investor groups that say their returns are subpar if not in the negative.

The bank announced the departure of two longtime directors and the addition of four new board members. CEO Jerry Plush is becoming chairman as part of the shake-up.

CEO Nitin Mhatre, who joined the Massachusetts bank in 2021, said that any M&A deal is at least a year away. For now, the bank is working with fintechs as a way to bolster its balance sheet and deliver exceptional customer experiences.

The syndicated loan, which was led by Citizens Trust Bank in Atlanta and Carver Federal Savings Bank in New York, marks the first time that a professional sports league has gotten a loan financed entirely by Black-owned banks. Those involved hope it starts a trend.

The sale of Partners Bancorp in Maryland to OceanFirst Financial in New Jersey was expected to be approved by midyear. But regulators' reviews of the applications are taking longer than expected, meaning the companies can no longer “give any assurance as to the timing” of the deal's completion, Partners says.

Newtek, the No. 2 originator of Small Business Administration 7(a) loans, is buying a single-branch bank in New York. The news sent its stock price tumbling as shareholders revolted, but CEO Barry Sloane is staying the course.

On Dec. 31, 2021. Dollars in thousands.

On Dec. 31, 2021. Dollars in thousands.

Five Star Bank, which is based in a rural part of New York state, has embraced digital lending, banking-as-a-service, real-time payments, bitcoin and more. “Those that don’t innovate don’t survive,” says Chief Administrative Officer Sean Willett.

The Louisiana-based Barksdale has agreed to purchase HomeBank of Arkansas. It is the fourth deal involving the sale of a bank to a credit union in less than two weeks.