Little noticed was the fact that the recent ViewPoint agreement to buy Highlands Bancshares was one of the pricier deals in months. However, it's probably an exception to the rule.

Park National Corp. in Newark, Ohio, warned in a regulatory filing Wednesday that its 2011 loan-loss provision will be higher than anticipated after regulators said its Vision Bank unit improperly accounted for guarantor-support loans.

Prosperity Bancshares Inc. in Houston said it will start listing its common stock on the New York Stock Exchange.

Southwest Bancorp Inc. in Stillwater, Okla., has sold off roughly $300 million of problem loans in a move its chief executive said is a major step toward achieving its goal of sustained profitability.

First Farmers Financial Corp. agreed late Wednesday to acquire First Citizens of Paris Inc.

One day Ed, CEO of the local community bank, was in his office waiting for the start of the most dispirited board meeting in his bank’s 100-plus year history. As he waited, Ed began reminiscing about his first day at the bank, when he began working as an office boy at age twelve.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – NCUA this afternoon approved the combination of Treasure State Corporate CU in Montana and Kansas Corporate CU, one of seven corporate mergers pending.

Regional banks are finding that profitable growth is nearly impossible in their traditional businesses. Consequently, many are taking the untraditional approach of diversifying in areas dominated by equally beleaguered rivals.

United Community Financial Corp. in Youngstown, Ohio, said Wednesday that it raised about $2 million from selling 1.6 million shares of common stock to an unnamed investor.

The huge amount of foreclosed properties on the books of many community banks is not expected to decrease significantly in 2012. One of the main problems continues to be the difficulty in obtaining accurate appraisals of foreclosed, bank-owned properties.

Capitol Bancorp Ltd. must really want to keep its board staggered.

State Bancorp Inc. in Jericho, N.Y., said Wednesday that it redeemed $36.8 million of preferred stock issued to the Treasury Department as part of the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Sturgis Bancorp Inc. in Michigan is suspending dividend payments to shareholders because management believes its strategy for propping up capital ratios by shrinking assets is no longer viable.

The community banking sector is starving for capital, and yet debate is dominated by complaints about regulatory burden. Instead, banks need to push regulators to let private equity investors assist small institutions.

Just when you thought all-stock deals were kaput, three recent deals proved otherwise. But they won't work for everybody in today's volatile markets.

RedRidge Finance Group said Wednesday that its RFG Fund I LLC acquired a majority interest in Excel Finance Holding Co., a consumer and auto loan provider.

Two independent advisory firms are recommending that shareholders at Brooklyn Federal Bancorp Inc. in New York vote in favor of the thrift company's plan to merge with Investors Bancorp Inc. of Short Hills, N.J.

Auto-loan delinquencies will remain at record lows next year, spurring more competition among lenders looking to expand their business, credit bureau TransUnion predicts.

WASHINGTON – The FDIC said today it approved the acquisition of Griffith (Indiana) Savings Bank by United FCU of St. Joseph, Mich., the first bank to be acquired by a credit union.

Despite recent sweet talk about building better relationships and regaining trust, few banks are taking meaningful steps to do either. It will take more than sympathetic ads, friendlier tellers or bonus credit card miles. This may require some time in therapy.