I am sad to see Cam Fine of the Independent Community Bankers of America resort personal attacks on me and my firm in response to my comment, "TAG Actually Gives Big Banks the Advantage." I can imagine that my comment stung a bit, but Cam and all of the people at ICBA know that I am one of the most vocal advocates for community banks in the U.S. Indeed, our firm is focusing a great deal of time and effort to help small banks raise capital and compete with the too-big-to-fail banks.

Community West Bancshares in Goleta, Calif., has yet another chief executive, marking its third CEO in less than a year.

The Federal Reserve Board has entered into written agreements with two community banks: Remer Bancorp. in Minnesota and Orrstown Financial Services in Shippensburg, Pa.

Regulators have terminated a memorandum of understanding with a banking unit of Banner Corp. after the Walla Walla, Wash., company returned to profitability for 2011.

Before moaning about unbanked consumers and their supposed lack of financial literacy, bankers, federal regulators, lawmakers might consider that there once was a product that targeted this situation.

With all due respect to my friend Chris Whalen, the view from Main Street in Ashland, Missouri; Newman Grove, Nebraska or Pine Mountain, Georgia is much different than the view from the 26th floor of West 57th Street in New York City.

Wells Fargo’s origination business has been operating at full steam, keeping the company’s mortgage servicing assets well above a cap proposed under Basel III. A new servicer compensation system could resolve the issue, but something has to give.

Commerce Bancshares — a Worcester, Mass., bank that specializes in classic car and small aircraft loans — would become a lender to buyers of Boston taxi medallions by acquiring Mercantile Capital, CEO Brian Thompson says.

A handful of banks, including CertusHoldings and Hancock Holding, have dual CEOs, which they believe helps with internal management and growth initiatives such as acquisitions.

The Senate by a clear margin passed legislation Thursday making it easier for small banks to attract investors without having to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Don Gibson's $560 million-asset bank has been so profitable for years that he joins Jamie Dimon and John Stumpf on KBW's new honor roll for profitable banks.

Beneficial Mutual Bancorp gained a 25% stake in Liberty Bell Bank after its former chairman Michael Kwasnik defaulted on a loan. Kwasnik had used the stake in recent years to stymie Liberty Bell while trying to take over the bank.

Unsuccessful in its bid to raise capital and recently ordered by regulators to bolster its loan-loss allowance, Fidelity Bank in Dearborn, Mich., is now critically undercapitalized and has told investors that is in danger of failing.

BankAtlantic Bancorp Inc. (BBX) of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., said Thursday that it has canceled plans for a potential capital raise after reaching a new deal to sell its thrift to BB&T Corp. (BBT)

BancTrust Financial Group Inc. (BTFG) in Mobile, Ala., has put itself up for sale after its bid to raise capital from two private-equity groups fell through.

Directors at HarborOne CU, New England's second largest credit union, voted unanimously last night to put the issue of whether to convert to a state chartered cooperative savings bank to the credit union giant's 180,000 members.

CFPB chief says while agency was charged with writing regulations for everyone, situations exist when an institution's size should be taken into account.

Commerce in Worcester, Mass., has agreed to buy the parent of Mercantile Bank & Trust Co. in Boston for $26.5 million in cash.

In the depths of the financial crisis, the FDIC under Chairman Sheila Bair extended 100% insurance coverage to non-deposit transactions balances of all banks. Known as the Transaction Account Guarantee program, this extraordinary extension of FDIC insurance coverage to all transaction balances was a good idea at the time, but should be allowed to expire at the end of the year.

PSB Bancorp in Wisconsin is requiring Marathon State Bank to pay out a special dividend before the deal closes. While unusual now, the move harkens back to a pre-crisis tactic that existed when capital wasn't a concern.