A crackdown on payday lending looks increasingly likely and risks sending low-income consumers in search unregulated financing options on the Internet and abroad. That threat is a key topic of discussion at American Banker’s Underbanked Financial Services Forum, which wraps up Friday in Miami. National Editor Maria Aspan reports from the event.

Texas State Bankshares in Harlingen has agreed to buy Border Capital Group in McAllen in a merger of South Texas lenders.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. exercised its powers to appoint itself the receiver to circumvent a judge's ruling that barred Nevada regulators from closing a tiny bank belonging to Capitol Bancorp.

Taylor Capital Group in Chicago has hired a new chief compliance officer for Cole Taylor Bank.

Waterstone Financial (WSBF) in Wauwatosa, Wis., is planning a second-step conversion.

Lowering overhead (relative to assets) would be a powerful motivator for a bank to get big, fast. But the savings just aren't there.

Ed Hale, who retired as chairman and CEO of First Mariner in Baltimore more than a year ago, has invested in a local technology consulting firm called Think Systems.

The Small Business Administration is making more money available for programs that encourage investment in early-stage companies and low-income communities.

First PacTrust Bancorp in Irvine, Calif., is planning to raise more than $40 million through a sale of preferred shares.

The industry is up in arms over a proposal that would require banks to disclose in call reports specific sources of fee revenue. In question is whether the mandate would improve oversight of safety and soundness or instead is aimed at furthering the policy agenda of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and consumer advocates.

The fast-growing First Virginia Community Bank in Fairfax said Thursday that it sold more than 1.6 million shares at $13.50 each. It plans to use the money to support growth, among other things.

Seacoast Banking of Florida has opened five offices in the last three months, called "fuel cells," to focus on small businesses. The aim is to foster more collaboration between commercial clients and Seacoast employees.

Equity Bancshares in Wichita, Kan., has lost its president, Drayton Alldritt, to an unnamed competitor.

Atlantic Coast Financial Corp. has settled litigation with shareholders who objected the terms of its proposed merger with Bond Street Holdings.

Branch transaction volumes are dropping but many banks continue to view physical facilities critical to acquiring customers, originating loans and branding businesses: The branches just need a different, lower-cost design.Wells Fargo (WFC), Bank of the West and Umpqua (UMPQ) are among the banks scaling down branches and eliminating teller windows. Here's a photo sampling of branch concepts that do away with the need for larger real estate.

Virginia Heritage Bank in Tysons Corner has begun a common stock offering.

They have spent the last few years building mass through acquisitions, but AmericanWest Bank and First PacTrust Bancorp are now shedding the nonessential parts.

The fees Fannie and Freddie charge to cover credit risk on mortgages have been surging. Large segments of the market may soon be fair game for securitization without federal backing.

Haven Bancorp in Hoboken has agreed to buy Hilltop Community Bancorp (HTBC) in Summit in a merger of New Jersey banks.