The flood of new regulation, demands for more capital, harsh enforcement and an unexplained three-year-old de facto moratorium on de novo charters lead one to believe Washington wants fewer community banks

Strong deposit and loan growth fueled third-quarter income at Signature Bank (SBNY) in New York.

Earnings at FirstMerit, the $14.6 billion-asset Akron, Ohio, bank rose 10%, to $34.9 million in the third quarter, compared with a year earlier, it reported Tuesday. Noninterest expense fell 6.4%, to $108.5 million, over the same period.

Lending to companies that service the federal government have historically been safe bets, but that could change if Washington is forced to make drastic cuts early next year.

Banks can retain their best and brightest staff by offering career advancement opportunities, competitive base salaries, adequate training and attentive performance management.

Synovus Financial (SNV) in Columbus, Ga., reported a slight uptick in third-quarter income from a year earlier as its credit costs declined.

BBCN Bancorp in Los Angeles has agreed to buy Pacific International Bancorp in Seattle.

Want to sell your bank for the best possible price? It will pay to ride the merger wave early, dealmakers say.

Romney may have worded it awkwardly, but he has never expressed a more pro-female sentiment than when he talked about those "binders full of women." Oftentimes, you need to deliver the resumes of female candidates directly to the decision makers in order to promote gender equity.

A tipping point is coming regarding anger and dissatisfaction over Dodd-Frank. But a new assessment of the regulatory landscape points a way for policymakers to get out of the mess.

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Chemical Financial (CHFC) in Midland, Mich., managed to boost quarterly earnings with higher interest income and lower credit costs.

F.N.B. Corp. (FNB) in Hermitage, Pa., said late Monday it had agreed to buy Annapolis Bancorp (ANNB), which owns the Bank of Annapolis, for $51 million in stock.

Eagle Bancorp's earnings rose 51% from a year earlier as the Bethesda, Md., made more loans and collected lower-cost deposits.

First Defiance Financial (FDEF) in Defiance, Ohio, reported third-quarter income of $5.4 million, up 32% from a year earlier, as credit costs dissipated.

Zions Bancorporation (ZION) in Salt Lake City reported lower third-quarter earnings but still managed to meet analysts' expectations.

It's senseless for most bank sellers to hold out for much more than 200% of tangible book value in today's world. It's better to sell early for a realistic price, experts say.

In detailed comment letters, banks expressed despair over the hardships they will face if regulators implement Basel III capital and liquidity rules.

The New York-area thrift is benefiting from an effort to make more multifamily and commercial real estate loans and has no immediate interest in selling itself, CEO Monte Redman says in a wide-ranging Q&A.

Independence Federal Savings Bank in Washington, D.C., has agreed to improve its practices in return for a promise by regulators to refrain from further enforcement action.