This year a California bank takes the No. 1 spot on American Banker's annual list of the best performing community banks.

Though hard times put a dent in profitability, asset quality and net interest margin continued to shine among the list of the best performing publicly traded community banks.

The 3-year-old Climate First in St. Petersburg appears primed to take its renewable energy lending nationwide now that it's exiting the de novo phase.

ELGA Credit Union said it plans to acquire Marine Bank & Trust in an all-cash deal. The combination marks the 12th of the year involving a credit union buying a bank, keeping the industry on pace to establish a new record for such deals.

Sandro DiNello, who briefly led New York Community Bancorp amid turmoil earlier this year, is staying on the company's board. But Joseph Otting, the company's recently installed CEO, is taking on the executive chairman position.

The Indiana bank said it struck a $40 million cash deal to sell its insurance brokerage to the Hilb Group. It joined a growing number of lenders announcing such transactions.

Though Jenius Bank hasn't reached breakeven, it's evidencing solid progress gathering deposits and making loans as it gets ready to celebrate its first birthday.

Atlanta Postal Credit Union's bid to acquire Affinity Bank marked the 11th deal overall this year involving a credit union buying a bank, matching the total for all of 2023. Separately, members voted against the merger of two credit unions in Indiana.

Gesa Credit Union in Washington agreed to acquire a 103-year-old community bank in Centralia, as it eyes opportunities for additional growth in the Pacific Northwest. In the District of Columbia, a bank group is calling for exit fees on banks selling to tax-exempt credit unions.

Shan Hanes, who led Heartland Tri-State Bank in Kansas until it failed last year, pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement by a bank officer. He now faces up to 30 years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 8.

The financial services industry has largely recovered from the negative shocks of the 2008 financial crisis. Still, the results from the most recent release of the Edelman Trust Barometer found that banks need to address a significant level of skepticism among consumers.

Gone are the days when Wall Street executives dressed in conspicuously expensive clothing. Now the industry has adopted a more relaxed and casual dress code.

First Federal Bank of Kansas City finalized a plan to reorganize its corporate structure; Regions Bank in Birmingham, Alabama, was one of 10 to win the "President's 'E' Award for Export Service"; Rhode Island-based Citizens Financial Group named Jim Weiss as Florida market president; and more in this week's banking news roundup.

The bank took a big hit on an office property in Washington, D.C., during the first quarter. This month, it filed a shelf registration statement for an offering of up to $150 million that could be used to bolster capital or refinance debt.

Irvine-based CBC Bancorp's $121 million deal for Bay Community Bancorp in Oakland stands out at a time when high rates have put a damper on both the number of deals taking place and the multiples sellers are paying.

West Coast Community Bancorp agreed to acquire 1st Capital Bancorp in an all-stock deal slated to close in the fourth quarter.

Community banks are in the early days of experimenting with AI and the earlier days of writing policies to govern its usage. It's key to do both at once.

Pima Federal Credit Union in Tucson plans to buy Republic Bank of Arizona in a cash transaction slated to close in the second half of this year. It's the ninth deal in 2024 in which a whole bank would sell itself to a credit union.

UMB Financial, Fulton Financial and Provident Financial Services have recently announced capital raises in connection with M&A deals. "They're setting a precedent," one consultant said.