Washington Federal of Seattle is bulking up in Oregon with an agreement to buy South Valley Bancorp of Klamath Falls for up to $72.7 million in cash and stock.

Western Capital in Boise, Idaho, is expanding into neighboring Oregon with a deal to acquire the $104 million-asset Northwest Bank in Lake Oswego.

Southwest Bancorp (OKSB) in Stillwater, Okla., has hired a search firm to help it find a successor for its president and chief executive, Rick Green, who is retiring.

Mercantile Bank (MBWM) of Grand Rapids, Mich., has repurchased about $10.5 million of the preferred stock it issued to the Treasury Department as part of the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

More banks are looking to cut costs by selling off branches built during the real estate boom. Thankfully, there are still banks with capital and a desire to pick and choose assets and bargain prices, helping to fuel the market.

First Southern Bank in Boca Raton, Fla., announced Wednesday that its president, Lynne Wines, has added the title of chief executive officer and has been elected to its holding company's board of directors.

An ailing Milwaukee community bank that needs to bolster its capital levels is about to receive a significant cash infusion from a prominent local family.

Barry Sloane of Newtek Business Services explains why banks are referring customers to his nonbank lender.

United Community Financial (UCFC) of Youngstown, Ohio, will once again raise fresh capital to meet the requirements of a regulatory order.

The Federal Reserve Board has terminated a written agreement with First Bancshares that prevented the Cold Spring, Minn., company from paying dividends without approval.

On a recent flight, the gentleman next to me shared a banking story that made my day.

Preliminary data shows that growth in commercial and industrial lending decelerated for the first time in a year and a half. Banks that have reported continued momentum said that gains have come from signing up new customers and taking market share, but that overall credit demand remains tepid.

Banks announced 21 deals in March, capping the best quarter for M&A in nearly two years. Investment bankers say the momentum should continue to build throughout the year, adding that 2013 should be a particularly busy year of consolidation.

Bank of America (BAC) has hired more than 90 small-business lenders in the Southeast as part of a broader push to add 1,000 relationship bankers throughout the country by the middle of the year.

Banks and credit unions are competing more than ever to try and win new business. Some are resurrecting giveaways and promotions to drum up clientele. Here are some notable promotions from recent years.

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Hudson Valley Holding Corp. (HVB) has completed the sale of $474 million in loans after it was required to reduce its concentrations in commercial real estate and classified loans.