U.S. banks enjoyed their ninth straight quarter of total profits exceeding $35 billion, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s first-quarter report on the industry's health. The FDIC said the growth in net income was "broad-based", spurred by a solid increase in net operating revenue, while community banks once again outpaced the industry at large. Here are some key takeaways.

A growing number of banks employ chief marketing officers who manage multimillion-dollar budgets and are involved in high-level corporate decision-making. The pressure's on to come up with creative ways to differentiate their brands and connect with customers.

Aside from shoestring budgets, the biggest problem for many community banks is that their marketing programs have gone stale, experts say. For too many, marketing remains bounded by three time-worn pillars: advertising, direct mail and public relations.

Former Wells Fargo Chief Executive Richard Kovacevich on Friday said that "regulation is killing small banks."

While other banks build fancy modern skyscrapers or look to shrink the size of their branches, Dollar Bank in Pittsburgh has poured its resources into restoring a 144-year-old building downtown. The bank says the building's fame gives it a marketing edge.

The Fed finalized a rule increasing an asset-size threshold that lets smaller banks finance deals with up to 75% in debt. That benefit, along with an exemption from Basel III capital rules, could prompt some bankers to second-guess short-term growth as they weigh their options.

First Bank in Wilmington, N.C., opened a new branch in Jacksonville, N.C., earlier this week, that was designed to be environmentally friendly.

Wells Fargo will lay off 89 workers at its legal-order processing group in Philadelphia.

Federal regulators are working to streamline call reports for community banks in response to industry complaints that some of the requirements are unnecessary and increasingly burdensome.

Heartland Financial in Dubuque, Iowa, has agreed to buy Premier Valley Bank in Fresno, Calif.

Anthony Weagley is starting to leave his stamp on Malvern Bancorp in Paoli, Pa.

Mercantile Bank in Grand Rapids, Mich., has named a new chief executive for its bank unit as it overhauls its leadership in the wake of the retirement of its chairman.

Pacific Premier Bancorp in Irvine, Calif., has named Allen Nicholson chief financial officer.

American State Bancshares in Wichita, Kan., has agreed to acquire three Kansas branches from Simmons First National.

Cheviot Financial in Cincinnati said that Chairman Robert L. “Bob” Thomas died unexpectedly on Saturday.

If you think bank marketing is all, or even largely, about advertising, think again. As fewer customers make regular trips to branches, banks are relying more on their marketing departments to connect with the public. We asked bank marketing executives around the country to talk about the challenges they face and how their roles have evolved. Here are some of their responses.

The $447 million-asset Inland Northwest said Russell Lee will take over as CEO on June 29.

Community banks had a banner first quarter, federal regulators said Wednesday — but it may come at a problematic time, politically speaking. The Quarterly Banking Profile may only deepen some lawmakers concern that small banks do not need regulatory relief if they are performing so well.

Southwest Bancorp in Stillwater, Okla., has agreed to buy First Commercial Bancshares in Edmond, Okla.

Green Bancorp in Houston has agreed to buy Patriot Bancshares, saying it will pay $139 million in common stock for the $1.3 billion-asset parent of Patriot Bank.