Experienced community bank executives know that failure to manage their bank’s sensitivity to interest rate risk can cause financial troubles.

VantageSouth Bancshares (VSB) in Raleigh, N.C., and Yadkin Financial (YDKN) in Elkin, N.C., are merging.

The $300 million-asset bank said in a press release Friday that Theodore Biagini, 73, had been chairman since its January 2007 opening.

The Mississippi bank's latest acquisition would take it into the Austin, Texas, market, but CEO Dan Rollins refuses to answer questions from investors and analysts about how quickly it would earn back its dilution of tangible book value.

CEO Gary Crosby believes new technology will help the Buffalo, N.Y., company generate revenue more in line with being a large financial institution. But his $250 million investment pledge didn't sit well with investors who were hoping for cost-cutting.

Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) of Los Angeles reported earnings of $31.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2013, an increase of 12.7% from the same quarter a year prior.

KeyCorp may ultimately need to buy some niche business lines, or sell its operations in some fringe markets, to cure its efficiency woes.

Prosperity Bancshares (PB) in Houston, riding its recent wave of acquisitions, posted higher quarterly profit.

First Niagara Financial Group (FNFG) in Buffalo, N.Y., met quarterly estimates and announced a plan to invest heavily in technological improvements as it moves beyond its recent phase of rapid growth.

Hancock Holding (HBHC) in Gulfport, Miss., missed earnings estimates in the fourth quarter as the company took $17.1 million in charges related to cost-cutting measures.

Texas Capital Bancshares (TCBI) in Dallas is planning to raise up to $102.4 million via a public offering of common stock. Texas Capital plans to sell 1.7 million shares at $60.25 per share.

City National Corporation (CYN) of Beverly Hills, Calif., posted net income of $55.1 million for the fourth quarter, up 17% from the same quarter a year earlier.

The $214 million-asset First Federal said in a press release Thursday that it will pay about $4.3 million in stock for the $73.7 million-asset Alpena. The deal is expected to close in the second or third quarter.

Banks and credit unions are outperforming retailers in the war against credit card fraud, according to a new survey from Javelin Strategy & Research.

Xenith Bankshares (XBKS) in Richmond, Va., disclosed that Malcolm McDonald will retire as chairman at the end of his current term.

Rockville Financial (RCBK) in Glastonbury, Conn., is beefing up its mortgage lending operation ahead of its pending merger with United Financial (UBNK) in Massachusetts.

Pulaski Financial (PULB) in St. Louis plans to take out a $10 million loan in order to redeem preferred stock shares issued to the Treasury Department under the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

BancorpSouth (BXS) in Tupelo, Miss., reported a big jump in profit as credit quality continued to improve.

Farmers Capital Bank (FFKT) in Frankfort, Ky., is one step closer to being freed from a regulatory order.

Executives at KeyCorp and Fifth Third Bancorp said they are noticing increased consumer confidence, which would translate into more lending opportunities this year.