Accounting for utility and car expenses would help lenders make better loan decisions, encourage homebuyers to select affordable houses and support a more sustainable housing market.

BancVue in Austin, Texas, has acquired a business to expand its leasing capabilities.

Industry observers are hopeful that CEOs will use quarterly conference calls to outline plans to aggressively unload bad assets in coming months.

Bank of America and the National Credit Union Administration reached a $165 million accord to cover losses on purchases of residential mortgage- backed securities by credit unions that failed, the agency said.

CorTrust Bank in Mitchell, S.D., recently bought a bank near Minneapolis and plans to do more deals there. It, like a lot of community banks, is trying to expand into new markets without repeating the precrisis mistakes that doomed many of its peers.

Customers Bancorp (CUUU), led by Chairman and Chief Executive Jay Sidhu, has applied with the Federal Reserve Board to open an office at 99 Park Avenue in Manhattan.

GulfShore Bancshares in Tampa, Fla., has raised $6 million by selling stock, intending to use the proceeds to fund its bank's growth and fuel lending to local professionals and businesses.

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Salisbury Bancorp (SAL) in Lakeville, Conn., has found a chief financial officer.

The $558 million-asset company said Monday that it would use proceeds from the sale to retire its senior debt and support its balance sheet.

Howard Bancorp (HBMD) in Ellicott City, Md., is buying a branch from Cecil Bancorp (CECB) in Elkton, Md.

Fewer bank deals were struck in the first quarter compared with a year earlier and the fourth quarter, despite increasing optimism about consolidation and the economy.

A unit of EverBank Financial (EVER) has sold more than $300 million in mortgage-backed securities.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. took enforcement actions against four banks last month tied to inadequate capital, compliance shortcomings and other matters, according to a series of orders released Friday.

First BanCorp (FBP) in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is raising $201 million through three separate sales of commercial loans.

First Citizens BancShares (FCNCA) in Raleigh, N.C., has named a former Royal Bank of Canada (RY) executive to be its chief financial officer.

Pittsburgh, Madison, Wis. and Tulsa, Okla., also ranked high in Nerdwallet's inaugural ranking of the 10 best cities for banking customers.

Columbia Banking System (COLB), Prosperity Bancshares (PB), Crescent Financial Bancshares (CRFN) and Bell State Bank & Trust completed acquisitions Monday.

There are only a few dozen banks with assets of $20 billion to $350 billion. In this regulatory climate, these regional banks in the middle of the size spectrum look very much like the industry's new sweet spot.

HomeTrust Bancshares (HTBI) in Asheville, N.C., announced that its chief executive is stepping down after nearly 50 years at the helm.