United Bankshares in Charleston, W.Va., has agreed to buy Cardinal Financial in Tysons Corner, Va.

The spike in the Libor rate is a boon for banks that have lots of floating-rate loans tied to the well-known benchmark. Shifts in money market funds are the driver, with the big question being how long the run will last.

The $185 million-asset bank said in a press release Tuesday that it is offering 800,000 shares of its common stock at a price of $7.50 each.

United Bankshares is in talks to acquire rival Washington-area lender Cardinal Financial, according to people familiar with the matter, as regional banks seek to pair up to counter low interest rates and mounting regulatory costs.

Net interest margins have only gotten tighter this year. Here is a look at the reasons why, how much some banks are hurting and what certain institutions are doing to relieve the pressure.

Needham Bank in Massachusetts is searching for a new chief executive just 14 months after its current leader took over.

Old Dominion National Bank in McLean, Va., has hired Stephanie Lykins-Harvey, formerly of Cardinal Bank in McLean, as director of retail banking.

The $1.1 billion-asset bank said in a press release Monday that it appointed Ron Coben to become its interim chief executive, succeeding Jeffrey Wilkinson, who resigned "to pursue his next entrepreneurial challenge.

Possible bad outcomes from the slowdown in bank chartering include less financial access in rural areas and further concentration of industry assets in just a few large banks.

Basel III could deal some serious blows to capital levels at First NBC Bank in New Orleans. The big question is how large will the issue become over the next two years.

Sterling Bancorp in Montebello, N.Y., has sold its mortgage business to Freedom Mortgage of Mount Laurel, N.J., for an undisclosed price.

The $58 million-asset company said in a press release Monday that Stephen Taylor, chairman and chief executive of Taylor Asset Management in Chicago, is leading a $6 million investment in its Neighborhood National Bank, effectively doubling its capital.

Alamogordo Financial in New Mexico has kicked into gear its plans to convert from a mutual to a fully shareholder-owned company.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has downgraded the Community Reinvestment Act rating for BancorpSouth in Tupelo, Miss.

Investors Bancorp in Short Hills, N.J., has joined the ranks of banks flagged by regulators for Bank Secrecy Act issues.

The $359 million-asset Merchants said in a press release Friday that Rocco Del Vecchio will succeed Anthony Biondi as chief executive on Aug. 22. Biondi is retiring after 12 years on the job.

United Community and Wells Fargo are among the banks building platforms to lend to senior-care facilities. Demographics suggest the business should grow significantly in coming years.

Online alternative financing can be an efficient source of capital for small businesses, but it can also be predatory, especially to unaware and inexperienced borrowers.