For community bankers, it was always a romantic notion, the idea that they could give mortgage lending short shrift and beat the big guys on commercial loans. Mortgage lending is looking pretty good to these bankers now.

First Security Bank of Bozeman, Mont., has named a longtime employee as its new president and chief executive.

Premier Community Bank in Marion, Wis., announced Tuesday that it is expanding into central Wisconsin with a deal to buy four branches from Baylake Bank (BYLK) of Sturgeon Bay, Wis.

BB&T, Webster and TCF announce redemption plans and other regionals are likely to follow in advance of new capital rules that take effect Jan. 1.

In a positive sign for bank stocks, Russell Investment Group has added 25 banks to its index of 3,000 publicly traded companies while removing just three banks from its influential list.

Jacksonville Bancorp (JAXB) in Florida announced Monday that its president and chief executive, Price W. Schwenck, has retired and that its board has named veteran banker Stephen C. Green as his successor.

JPMorgan had over $200 billion in TAG deposits in the last quarter. That's almost 20% of the bank's deposits and equal to 60% of the now-infamous chief investment office's portfolio.

Relief from fair value accounting is essential for community banks to survive and ultimately thrive in today’s economic climate. Fortunately, legislation before Congress would untether regulatory accounting practices from GAAP.

There are fewer opportunities for upward mobility, and it's likely that the bank you go to work for will soon be merged out of existence. Is this the kind of environment that attracts the best and brightest?

Legacy Bank in Colwich, Kan., has reached its first deal in its 126-year history with an agreement to buy Alliant Bank in Sedgwick, Kan.

BancAlliance , a Chevy Chase, Md., asset management firm that helps small banks team up on large commercial loans, has raised $150 million in new capital that it will use to expand its lending network.

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Fentura Financial (FETM) in Fenton, Mich., has gotten approval for the appointments of two key executives.

MidSouth Bancorp (MSL) in Lafayette, La., announced Monday that it is buying two branches in Baton Rouge from rival Hancock Holding (HBHC).

Bank of Virginia (BOVA) in Midlothian is seeking more capital to fuel bank acquisitions following a prolonged restructuring.

Five years after embarking on a path to become a bank holding company, specialty lender CapitalSource is almost there. Tad Lowrey, the CEO of CapitalSource Bank, thinks the Fed will approve an application next year, now that company is "smaller, simpler and cleaner."

First Midwest Bancorp (FMBI) in Itasca, Ill., has named Thomas M. Prame its director of retail banking, a newly created position in which he will be responsible for the bank's 100-branch network and oversee the expansion and development of its retail products and services.

Bankers, regulators and consumer advocates debate the best ways to serve low-income and underbanked consumers.

Center Bancorp (CNBC) of Union, N.J., has taken another step in its plan to bulk up in northern New Jersey.

State regulators closed banks in Georgia, Florida and Tennessee on Friday, making June a busy month for failures.