SouthCrest Financial Group (SCSG) in Peachtree City, Ga., has raised nearly $18 million and plans to merge its banks.

Hancock Holding (HBHC) in Gulfport, Miss., reported lower quarterly earnings after taking a charge tied to branch closures and other expense reductions.

Coast Bancorp (CTBP) in San Luis Obispo, Calif., has hired a new chief financial officer.

National Bank Holdings (NBHC) in Greenwood Village, Colo., cut expenses to compensate for lower revenue in the third quarter.

First Financial Bancorp (FFBC) in Cincinnati posted lower profits in the third quarter on reduced loan and other revenue.

The $17 billion-asset company said late Thursday that Patrick Barrett will succeed Charles Nugent, who is retiring at the end of this year.

SVB Financial (SVB) in Santa Clara, Calif., reported a 60% increase in quarterly profit after investment securities it holds rose more than ninefold in value.

Nobody has told banks in the northwestern U.S. that bank M&A is in the doldrums. Two deals were announced and another terminated there after the markets closed Wednesday, and that will put pressure on banks in the region to keep buying each other.

Sterling Financial (STSA) in Spokane, Wash., reported lower quarterly earnings after suffering a decline in mortgage banking revenue.

WesBanco (WSBC) in Wheeling, W.Va., has hired a Fifth Third (FITB) executive to be its chief operating officer, and plans to promote him to chief executive next year.

State Bank Financial (STBZ) in Atlanta reported higher quarterly earnings tied to loans it obtained from buying failed banks.

Quarterly profit slid at First Merchants Corp (FRME) in Muncie, Ind., as interest income and revenue from loan sales fell.

Customers Bancorp (CUBI) in Wyomissing, Pa., compensated for reduced income from its warehouse mortgage business with growth in other lending categories last quarter.

Regulators unveiled a proposal Thursday that would institute tough new liquidity requirements on U.S. financial institutions, acknowledging that their plan is harsher than a global framework suggested by international supervisors.

Community bankers have become increasingly concerned about the government-sponsored enterprise as it has grown and expanded its client base.

Old Second Bancorp (OSBC) in Aurora, Ill., joined the growing list of banks benefiting from the recapture of its deferred-tax asset valuation allowance.

The Dallas bank added Charles Hyle as a director and audit panel member because of his background in risk management and credit oversight at KeyCorp and Barclays.

Virginia Commerce Bancshares (VCBI) in Arlington recorded a slight dip in quarterly profit as it waited for final approval of its merger with United Bancshares (UBSI).

First Mid-Illinois Bancshares (FMBH) in Mattoon has promoted the president of its bank to replace its retiring chairman and chief executive.