A pair of acquisitions announced this week is creating chatter about out-of-market interest in Florida's banks. Still, some caution that bankers must be mindful of past mistakes by other long-distance buyers.

United Community Bank (UCBI) in Georgia is expanding its Small Business Administration funding by acquiring a portion of Business Carolina's (BCI) operations.

The long wait is finally over for Mercantile Bank (MBWM) in Grand Rapids, Mich., as it looks to acquire Firstbank (FBMI) in Alma, Mich.

First Niagara Financial (FNFG) in Buffalo is shelling out another six-figure sum for severance tied to an ousted executive.

National Bank Holdings (NBHC) in Greenwood Village, Colo., has consolidated the roles of chairman and chief executive.

Bank of the Ozarks (OZRK) in Little Rock, Ark., is encouraging shareholders to support its proposal to more than double its authorized common stock.

Commerce Bancshares (CBSH) in Kansas City, Mo., has agreed to sell three branches in rural southeastern Missouri to New Era Bank in Fredericktown, Mo.

Washington Federal (WAFD) in Seattle negotiated a discount on its recent purchase of Bank of America (BAC) branches after deposits levels at those locations fell.

Colorado lawmakers on Wednesday passed a bill to establish a financial services co-operative to serve licensed marijuana dispensaries in the state.

Eagle Bancorp Montana (EBMT) in Helena has applied for a state charter for its American Federal Savings Bank.

Valley National Bancorp (VLY) in Wayne, N.J., has agreed to buy 1st United Bancorp (FUBC) in Boca Raton, Fla.

Xenith Bankshares (XBKS) in Richmond, Va., has named Thomas Snead Jr. chairman.

Higher regulatory and compliance costs may push more small banks to sell themselves or merge with larger institutions. But so far, community bank consolidation rates are following historical patterns.

Lenders everywhere are looking for signs of heightened loan demand, and a San Diego bank says it has found a strong one.

Simmons First National (SFNC) in Pine Bluff, Ark., has agreed to buy Community First Bancshares in Union City, Tenn.

Kinderhook Bank in New York has raised $7.4 million after selling preferred stock.

A Michigan state court judge has reportedly postponed a trial in which former customers of Lotus Bancorp in Novi, Mich., had filed a lawsuit against the bank's executives for sending racist emails.

CertusBank in Greenville, S.C., has hired a new internal auditor and promoted eight other executives as it reorganizes management weeks after the ouster of its top executives.

Big banks are reporting an increased appetite for lending to small businesses and, in doing so, they are slowly stealing market share from smaller lenders, according to Biz2Credit's monthly index of business lending trends.