The company began to seriously consider its options when Bank of America agreed to sell nearly two dozen Michigan branches in early 2013. Chemical Financial eventually agreed to buy Lake Michigan for $184 million.

Community and regional banks should be subjected to simpler rules than very large banks, the chairman and CEO of the Buffalo, N.Y., company said. In fact, size is the wrong determinant for risk-based regulation, he said.

A stolen company laptop has left customers of Pioneer Savings Bank vulnerable, according to a consumer alert from the New York State Department of Financial Services.

Qapital, which launched its app in Sweden in 2013, is making its American entrance. It is the latest example of how firms are trying to inspire young consumers to save and mashes personal financial management with money movement.

American Banker readers share their views on the most pressing banking topics of the week. Comments are excerpted from reader response sections of AmericanBanker.com articles and from our social media platforms.

EagleBank in Bethesda, Md., priced a secondary offering of close to 2.5 million shares of common stock at $35.50 per share on Thursday.

Banco Popular got the most press for agreeing to buy the failed Doral Bank. But the deal also revealed one surprise winner, First BanCorp, while another institution, OFG Bancorp, was shut out of the process.

Community banks have long said they are the kings of customer service. But a new study shows technology may be the great equalizer for megabanks, as the quality of their mobile apps and online bank sites is prompting customers to say big banks' customer service has improved.

When the government owns banks, lending decisions tend to be driven by politics rather than economics. Resources flow to those with influence and banks under-price risk in order to appeal to voters. That's bad news for everyone.

FCB Financial Holdings in Weston, Fla., has terminated its loss-share agreements with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

Loan demand continues to increase across the country, even though some economic sectors are still struggling, according to a report released Wednesday by the Federal Reserve Board.

A consumer lender with nearly 300 far-flung offices struggled to keep up with multiple compliance projects using email and Microsoft Project. Then it turned to collaboration software, and demanded some customized changes, that helped tie its many loose threads together.

The Conference of State Bank Supervisors wants Congress to adopt a formal community bank definition, based on qualitative factors such as local governance structure and business models.

ICBA Bancard has allocated nearly $600,000 to support community banks as they navigate the transition to EMV chip-and-PIN cards this year, the wholly owned payment services subsidiary of the Independent Community Bankers of America announced this week.

Farmers Capital Bank in Versailles, Ky., has been freed from a regulatory order.

Triumph Bancorp in Dallas has purchased several entities that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. retained after the failure of Doral Financial in Puerto Rico.

The trade group's leader touted progress in areas such as qualified mortgages and flood insurance, but he also encouraged members to keep speaking out against overzealous supervision.

HomeTrust Bancshares created a special call center and encouraged tellers to invite ATM customers inside the branches to answer questions and to differentiate the company from Bank of America in terms of fees.