Regulatory burdens, technology challenges and long-awaited M&A top the list of what small bank leaders see in the year ahead, according to a KPMG survey. Following are some of the study's key findings.

Bank investor Kenneth Lehman plans to buy a controlling stake in Marine Bank & Trust Co. in Vero Beach, Fla.

Commonwealth Bancshares in Louisville, Ky., is offering a $2,500 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person who shot and killed the son of a bank employee.

Waterstone Financial (WSBF) in Wauwatosa, Wis., has opened its first branch outside its home state.

First Internet Bank (INBK) in Indianapolis raised $29.1 million through a public offering.

Heartland Financial USA's unusual acquisition of Freedom Bank in Sterling, Ill., seems to be more about collecting on a debt than strategic M&A. Such moves are uncommon but have happened in the last few years — and they can work.

Financial planning firm Waddell & Reed is partnering with BOK Financial (BOKF) to provide expanded trust services to its clients.

Atlantic Coast Financial Corp. (ACFC) in Jacksonville has priced its public offering at a slight discount to its trading price.

Commercial loan officers must use judgment in discussions and email exchanges with property moguls, whose lawyers will construe statements and written correspondence in a way most favorable to the borrower.

The small-dollar lender First Cash Financial Services (FCFS) has agreed to buy a 12-store pawnshop chain in the Charleston, S.C., area.

State Bank Financial CEO Joe Evans has hired an ex-colleague, fund manager David Brown, to help lead the next stage of the Atlanta bank's M&A strategy.

The chief financial officer of Eagle Bancorp Montana (EBMT) in Helena, Mont., is stepping down to pursue another opportunity.

Mercantile Bank (MBWM) in Grand Rapids, Mich., expects regulatory hang-ups to delay its acquisition of Firstbank (FBMI) in Alma, Mich.

The cap on the size of mortgages that government-sponsored enterprises can guarantee will remain unchanged at the start of 2014.

A plan to sell a Dallas bank to an investor group through a bankruptcy auction could lead to big losses for groups that made investments at the height of the economic crisis.

Alliance Bancorp Inc. of Pennsylvania (ALLB) in Broomall will face a proxy challenge from activist investor PL Capital.

First Merchants (FRME) in Muncie, Ind., has exited the Small Business Lending Fund.

ViewPoint Financial (VPFG) in Plano, Texas, has agreed to buy LegacyTexas Group in Plano.

The president and chief executive of Sun Bancorp (SNBC) in Vineland, N.J., is stepping down at the behest of the board.

A longtime chairman and chief executive at HomeTrust BancShares (HTBI) in Asheville, N.C., has retired.