The $1 billion-asset holding company for Veritex Community Bank redeemed about $8 million worth of SBLF shares.

Middleburg Financial in Middleburg, Va., plans to record a $3 million impairment charge tied to a participation loan in which the borrower has been accused of fraud.

Citizens & Northern in Wellsboro, Pa., has paid off a $24 million repurchase agreement and will record a loss on the prepayment.

Birmingham Bloomfield Bancshares in Birmingham, Mich., has redeemed its shares in the Small Business Lending Fund and exited the program.

Suffolk Bancorp in Riverhead, N.Y., has hired Fiserv as core processor and it plans to record a $1.4 million charge to cover the vendor switch.

BankMobile attracted 100,000 users in its first year and with the acquisition of a couple of business lines from collegiate servicer Higher One it is projecting it will have 2 million by July.

American Banker predicted these five community bankers would make news in 2015, and they did not disappoint. Some pursued M&A, one went public, and one even helped break up his bank.

We revisit some of the best comments readers posted in 2015. Comments are excerpted from reader response sections of AmericanBanker.com and BankThink.com articles, except where noted.

Directors at credit unions used to work for free, but that is starting to change — and it's rankling banking industry officials who say it's another example of the nonprofit cooperatives mimicking banks without shouldering the same tax burden.

The $3.9 billion-asset holding company for Busey Bank redeemed all its remaining shares in the program at a total redemption price of about $72.8 million.

Franklin Savings Bank in Franklin, N.H., has tapped its chief operating officer to succeed Jeffery Savage, when he retires as CEO next year.

Another institution helped push New York Community Bancorp to add cash to its bid, a filing disclosed. While Astoria's board was concerned about NYCB's plans for an aggressive balance sheet restructuring and capital raise, management believed the other suitor's offer had more execution risk.

Tri-Valley Bank in San Ramon, Calif., said that its largest individual shareholder is making a bid to double his stake.

Finally released from a long-standing regulatory order, FNBH in Michigan is looking forward to ramping its lending, expanding its capabilities in wealth management and moving forward on plans to revamp its core processing system.

California Republic Bancorp in Irvine has securitized $380 million of its prime auto loans.

Rockhold, Brown & Co. Bank in Bainbridge, Ohio, has tapped its chief financial officer to succeed Bill Hubbard as chief executive.

First Farmers and Merchants in Columbia, Tenn., promoted Brian Williams to president of both the holding company and First Farmers and Merchants Bank. The $1.2 billion-asset company also named Timothy Pettus vice chairman of the holding company and bank.

Banks face immense challenges trying to keep up with technology, but they also must cater to older customers with big deposit accounts who still use their branch.

First United Corp. in Oakland, Md., has named Carissa Rodeheaver chairman and chief executive.

Bay Bancorp in Columbia, Md., has agreed to buy Hopkins Bancorp in Pikesville, Md., for $23.8 million in cash.