The business credit card sector, which was on life support near the end of the recession, appears to be strengthening.

First PacTrust Bancorp (BANC) in Irvine, Calif., is planning to raise about $46 million through a sale of common stock.

The Onion, a satirical news site, reported that chief executives from the largest financial institutions "are just about ready to completely destroy the world again."

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has charged nine former directors of Southern Community Bank in Fayetteville, Ga., with approving risky loans that later led to its collapse in 2009.

Banks on the block are still trading at reasonable valuations, and their financials are offering more clarity than in the recent past. That's has some industry observers believing that the stars are aligning for deals to get done. For sellers, the dilemma is whether to take the modest multiples on offer or hold for more at the risk of missing out altogether.

Republic First may try to revive its 2008 deal to sell itself to Metro Bancorp. That effort died at the feet of regulators but still makes sense in the eyes of some. Other banks are said to be asking similar questions about old deals.

Farmers & Merchants in Long Beach, Calif., has grown significantly since 2008 largely because of successful efforts to keep key employees from bolting.

Inland Bank and Trust announced Tuesday that it is working with tech vendor Linkable Networks to begin giving its customers digital, card-linked coupons.

Renato Ramirez, who grew up in Laredo, Texas, and heads a bank there, recently received his community's most prestigious award for his philanthropic efforts.

New York regulators announced a $250 million settlement Thursday with Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi-UFJ (BTMU) for violating United States sanctions against countries including Iran, Sudan and Myanmar.

OptimumBank Holdings (OPHC) in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., can keep listing its shares on the Nasdaq now that a reverse stock split has brought the stock above the exchange's minimum price.

Several foreign-owned banks have been looking to expand in the United States, including Chile's BCI and Canada's TD Bank. Here's a look at foreign-owned banks that have an eye on U.S. expansion.

Banks will have to scrutinize their relationships with consultants, brace for the possibility of a wave of regulation of consulting practices and have backup plans in case a key advisor ever receives a punishment like the one New York state dealt Deloitte.

Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke said Wednesday that regulators are making steady progress on a number of critical rules under the Dodd-Frank Act, predicting that several final rules will be released in the coming months.

Regulators have published the latest catalog of places outside metropolitan areas where lending will earn banks credit toward their Community Reinvestment Act obligations.

The $130 million-asset parent of Guernsey Bank said Tuesday it would pay roughly $5 million for Ohio State, which has three branches in the Columbus area.

The $804 million-asset bank will offer as many as 1.45 million shares to the public at $14.25 a share, which could produce as much as $20.7 million.

Cambridge Savings Bank in Massachusetts has hired new chief financial and marketing officers.

Heritage Commerce (HTBK) in San Jose, Calif., has teamed with a Bay Area nonprofit group to help low-income entrepreneurs secure startup capital.

Fulton Financial (FULT) in Lancaster, Pa., is extending a share repurchase program by three months.