Ameris Bancorp in Georgia wanted to buy a premium-finance business but settled for a joint venture, blessed by its regulators, after being flagged for insufficient Bank Secrecy Act compliance.

Female entrepreneurs who apply for loans online and are evaluated by an automated system get a bigger share of online credits than they do traditional in-person bank loans. It could be a sign that automated credit decisions are fairer.

United Community Banks in Blairsville, Ga., is searching for a new financial chief officer.

Following the passage of the November ballot initiative, it is hugely important that cannabis businesses in the nation's largest state be able to secure bank accounts, at a minimum.

Wayne Savings Bancshares in Wooster, Ohio, is looking for a new CEO.

CVB Financial in Ontario, Calif., and Valley Commerce Bancorp in Visalia, Calif., have amended the terms of their planned merger.

MainSource Financial Group in Greensburg, Ind., has agreed to buy FCB Bancorp in Louisville, Ky., for about $56.9 million. The cash-and-stock transaction is expected to close in the second quarter.

Two former executives of the failed GulfSouth Private Bank in Destin, Fla., and another man have been indicted on federal charges of defrauding the Troubled Asset Relief Program of $7.5 million.

Smaller institutions have increased the size of their auto books in the last year, with the 25 most-active lenders reporting a nearly 7% increase. More borrower demand and a pullback by some bigger lenders are contributing to the rise.

Banc of California in Irvine and PL Capital have reached an apparent truce, as the bank agreed to consider letting the activist investor group submit two nominees to next year's board election.

Dickinson Financial in Kansas City, Mo., has agreed to buy Community Bancshares of Kansas in Overland Park.

Ameris Bancorp in Moultrie, Ga., has entered into a consent order with regulators tied to the Bank Secrecy Act.

Pinnacle Bank in Gilroy, Calif., has appointed a new CEO and its current leaders will move into a newly created role.

Carver Bancorp once turned to Citigroup during a time of need for financial assistance. Now Citigroup has recruited Carver's former CEO to join its board.

Credit One Bank in Las Vegas, Nev., a credit card specialist, plans to almost double its workforce over several years to support business growth.

To act like a startup — as many banks say they want to do — institutions must employ a nontechnical strategy: build services based on customers say they want.

A federal judge heard arguments from ICBA and NCUA on whether to dismiss the banking group's legal challenge to the credit union regulator's changes to the member business lending rule. A decision on the dismissal could come as early as January.

Old Second Bancorp in Aurora, Ill., raised $45 million from a debt sale.

Pacific Metro Bank would cater to Chinese-Americans around Atlanta. The application process is worth watching since the group is seeking the first Georgia charter in seven years and would be based in a market where more than 90 banks have failed since 2007.

Borrowers served by the FHA program, particularly first-time buyers and minorities, have benefited from nonbanks' increase in lending. Those independent lenders should be commended for filling a gap.