Low interest rates have allowed banks of all sizes to rotate out of time deposits and build up transaction accounts, but key differences in funding profiles persist across asset classes.

The Floyd, Va., company posted a big loss after purging its balance sheet and absorbing costs of a May proxy battle. The fight, led by Douglas Schaller, brought in three new directors and the accelerated departure of Cardinal's longtime CEO.

Home BancShares, in Conway, Ark., has agreed to pay $1.4 million for Premier Bank in Tallahassee, Fla. Premier's parent is in bankruptcy proceedings, which could spur rival bids for Premier.

Federal regulators issued proposals on Wednesday that would make home appraisals essentially compulsory in certain cases before banks can approve a loan.

The rules for mortgage servicing were written primarily for the largest players, but it is the smaller ones that will have the hardest time absorbing the costs.

EverBank's announcement this week that it has set up a division to lend to golf equipment makers is the latest example of a bank trying to distinguish itself as a niche lender. Whether banks acquire units or start them from scratch - usually by wooing away rivals' lending teams - the objective is the same: Offset weak demand for traditional business and consumer loans.

Two years after converting the preferred shares it owned in Sterling Financial (STSA) into common stock, the Treasury Department is now looking to sell those shares on the open market.

United Community Financial (UCFC) in Youngstown, Ohio, reported its third straight quarter of profitability as asset quality improved.

BBX Capital (BBX) posted a second-quarter net loss of $12.3 million for its last reporting period with BankAtlantic.

Mackinac Financial (MFNC) in Manistique, Mich., has raised roughly $11.6 million through a rights offering and the sale of common stock to an investor.

Lawmakers have set $10 billion in assets as a dividing line between small and large banks for regulatory purposes. That's left bankers at Trustmark's Gerard Host and other institutions that are approaching the cutoff with a choice: Deliberately limit their size or pursue acquisitions to solidly cross the threshold.

National Penn Bancshares in Boyertown, Pa., has completed restructuring $400 million of fixed-rate borrowings with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh to reduce interest expense and expand its net interest margin.

Six North Carolina businessmen and banking veterans made up the group that raised $13 million to buy First Carolina State Bank in Rocky Mount, N.C., from Capitol Bancorp (CRBC).

A personal touch can help a bank stand out, but providing great service is a challenge in our increasingly digital society. How do you develop meaningful (and lasting) relationships with your customers?

Almost two-thirds of small businesses in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's region that sought credit received some form of financing, according to a poll conducted by the bank during the second quarter.

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This year's drought could cause many farmers to default on ag loans, particularly those tied to livestock. For banks with high concentrations of ag loans, the drought poses the first major credit challenge since the financial crisis.

Ginnie Mae is considering raising minimum net-worth requirements for issuers of its mortgage-backed securities after being deluged with applications from small mortgage banks. Disruptions in the mortgage market prompted the rush.

A key long-term certificate-of-deposit rate has reached a historic low after falling below 1%.