Continuing its expansion in entertainment hotbeds outside of Southern California, City National Bank in Los Angeles has opened its first banking office in Atlanta.

An avalanche of private equity-led acquisitions of banks never materialized this year, dampening expectations for a 2012 rebound. But don't tell that to former bankers who are tied to buyout funds.

A second independent advisory firm has weighed in on pending board elections at HF Financial Corp. and this one is urging shareholders to cast their ballots for candidates supported by management.

A bipartisanship bill seeks to give banks a new way to appeal exam results and has regulators steaming.

Beneficial Mutual Bancorp Inc. of Philadelphia has agreed to acquire SE Financial Corp.

Under a deal excepted to close in the second quarter, River Valley Bancorp in Madison, Ind., would pay $6.3 million in cash for all the common stock of the $82 million-asset Dupont State Bank.

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Many community banks that are struggling to grow and cannot afford to repay their bailout aid will be forced to sell, and they don't have a lot of time to find a buyer.

First Commonwealth Financial Corp. in Indiana, Pa., said Monday that its president and chief executive is retiring.

Sterling Bank in Washington and the FDIC are both pursuing claims against directors and officers of Bank of Clark County, which failed in 2009. Sterling was the first to file, but lawyers believe the FDIC will likely get its tab paid first, if legal fees don't end up taking it all.

First Midwest Bancorp Inc. in Itasca, Ill., First Financial Bancorp in Cincinnati and MidSouth Bancorp Inc. in Lafayette, La., have finalized separate acquisitions.

The Arkansas Bankers Association announced Friday that President and Chief Executive Kenneth D. Hammonds will retire at the end of this year and will be replaced by the trade group's chief operating officer, William R. Holmes.

Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania Inc. in Narberth, Pa., said Friday in a regulatory filing that it was once again in compliance with the Nasdaq's listing requirement for minimum bid prices.

Many big banks in debt-plagued Europe need to slim down and raise capital. As a result, experts say they expect more opportunities for U.S. banks to beef up as overseas conglomerates unload unwanted assets.

First National Community Bancorp Inc. in Dunmore, Pa., said Friday that it had restated financial results for 2009 and two quarters in 2010 after an internal audit uncovered inaccuracies in its accounting for loans losses.

In need of new capital, First Cherokee State Bank is looking to differentiate itself by opening a casual coffee house stocked with wealth advisors.

NCUA has cleared the acquisition by United FCU of Griffith Savings Bank, the first purchase of a bank by a federally chartered credit union, and the deal now awaits approval by the FDIC.

Small but profitable Wedbush Bank, a sister company of Wedbush Securities, is the rare example of a thriving bank linked to a brokerage firm. Now the bank is looking to expand by scouting for an acquisition along the West Coast.

Banks looking to tune up their public image these days could take a lesson from Ray Jay.

Greystone Bank in Raleigh, N.C., is one small loan away from a rare voluntary liquidation.