Poage Bankshares (PBSK) in Ashland, Ky., has completed an acquisition that incensed one of its biggest investors.

Operation Choke Point prosecutors were poised to resolve their first lawsuit against a bank, but then they ran into a federal judge in North Carolina with a fondness for citing "The Sopranos" and a deep skepticism of financial services and the settlement deal.

Rockville Financial (RCKB) in Glastonbury, Conn., and United Financial Bancorp (UBNK) in West Springfield, Mass., have secured four of the five regulatory approvals needed to complete their high-profile merger.

Salisbury Bancorp (SAL) in Lakeville, Conn., has agreed to buy Riverside Bank in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Post-crisis structural changes will trigger a wave of community bank M&A, creating new regional bank powerhouses. Investors will pressure management to acquire, sell or return capital through dividends or repurchases. There will be no runners-up in the coming consolidation.

The investigation that Justice Department officials have dubbed "Operation Choke Point" was first disclosed in March 2013. The probe aims to prevent fraudsters from accessing consumer bank accounts by choking off their access to the payments system. Its effects have been felt by banks, payment processors and companies that make short-term consumer loans over the Internet, with some industry officials arguing that at least some of the affected online lenders are legitimate businesses. Here is a look at key milestones of the investigation.

River Valley Community Bank (RVVY) in Yuba City, Calif., is set to have a new chief executive.

Oak Valley Bancorp (OVLY) in Oakdale, Calif., has restated its fourth-quarter earnings after discovering that it made an error accounting for a common stock dividend.

While big banks are trying to recruit more employees with engineering and technology expertise, they are often losing out to startups and tech giants like Facebook and Google. American Banker editors discuss the perks, better compensation and cultural changes that banks would need to offer to get ahead in the war for talent.

Associated Banc-Corp (ASBC) in Green Bay, Wis., seems poised to make acquisitions.

Westfield Bancorp in Westfield Center, Ohio, has agreed to buy Valley Savings Bank in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. The deal will give Westfield two additional branches and boost its assets to nearly $1 billion.

The organization that runs the automated clearing house network wants to phase in same-day payments in three stages, but backers of a speedier system say the plan -- the second such effort in two years -- still is not enough.

There is a lot of work to be done behind the scenes before Citizens can become independent of Royal Bank of Scotland, including the establishment of new technological, administrative and financial reporting systems, CEO Bruce Van Saun says.

Community banks are revamping branches and offering new services in an effort to become trusted advisers to small businesses. Such a transformation is often easier said than done.

First Commonwealth Financial (FCF) in Indiana, Pa., is bringing its corporate banking business to Ohio.

A breakdown of M&A announcements in the financial services industry for the week ended March 15.

United Community Financial (UCFC) in Youngstown, Ohio, has hired an outside executive to become its next president and chief executive.

Like the Postal Service, small banks must radically change their business model, expect more consolidations and mergers, focus on critical services and avoid relying on the U.S. government for help – it could make things worse.

Talmer Bancorp (TLMR) in Troy, Mich., could enjoy a bigger-than-expected benefit from its purchase of Michigan Commerce Bank.

First Republic Bank (FRC) in San Francisco is planning to sell more than 3.5 million shares of common stock.