Banner Corp. (BANR) in Walla Walla, Wash., has agreed to buy six branches in Oregon from Sterling Financial (STSA) in Spokane, Wash.

FNBH Bancorp (FNHM) in Howell, Mich., plans to raise up to $1.5 million in a rights offering.

South Street Financial had just given up on raising capital and had hired Raymond James to evaluate possible suitors when a BNC representative visited the CEO's office to request merger talks.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. is suing eight former officers and directors of Habersham Bank over their role in the failure of the Clarkesville, Ga., lender.

First Citizens Banc Corp (FCZA) in Sandusky, Ohio, has exited the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

First Defiance Financial (FDEF) in Defiance, Ohio, has agreed to buy First Community Bank in Columbus, Ohio.

The Minnesota Department of Commerce on Friday appointed the National Credit Union Administration as receiver of $51 million St. Francis Campus Credit Union of Little Falls, Minn.

Regions Financial (RF) and MCG Capital (MCGC) have accused a Dallas securities firm of participating in a fraud that cost the two lenders millions of dollars in losses.

The company's management team is confident it can build off a beachhead, making its case by referencing past forays into Baton Rouge, La., and Houston.

U.S. households took on debt at a faster clip in the fourth quarter than at any time in seven years, but credit quality measures continued to improve, according to economic reports issued Tuesday by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and other sources.

Keith Wilton previously served as an executive vice president at Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, which is now owned by UnionBanCal. Before that, he was president of the specialty finance group at Greater Bay Bancorp, which was sold to Wells Fargo (WFC) in 2007.

An investment firm in North Carolina has raised its stake in Republic First Bancorp (FRBK) in Philadelphia.

Mergers and acquisitions have gained steam in early 2014. Here is a rundown of the whole-bank deals, shedding of noncore businesses and swapping of securities so far this year.

Home Federal Savings Bank in Rochester, Minn., has been freed from a supervisory agreement with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

Vibra Bank in Chula Vista, Calif., has hired a president and chief executive.

First Financial Holdings (SCBT) in Columbia, S.C., is planning to change its name for the second time in as many years.

CVB Financial (CVBF) in Ontario, Calif., has agreed to buy America Bancshares in Newport Beach, Calif.

The future of bank M&A took clearer shape in 2013. A certain kind of deal, the merger of equals, rose to the fore and that momentum has carried into 2014. The trend coincides with a change in dealmaking styles. Buyers used to win banks in pricey, unpredictable auctions. Now they have to be friendly masters of the negotiating table, and often have to conduct patient talks over an extended period of time. It all sounds very friendly, but it's hard to do.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency plans to release Associated Banc-Corp (ASBC) in Green Bay, Wis., from a February 2012 consent order.