Commerce Bancshares in Kansas City, Mo., is delaying the release of its fourth-quarter results while external auditors complete a review of its procedures for establishing its loan-loss allowance.

Plaza Bancorp in Irvine, Calif., has agreed to buy Manhattan Bancorp in El Segundo, Calif.

First BanCorp in San Juan, Puerto Rico, has created a new position to oversee strategic decisions.

Federal bank regulators will gather feedback on regulatory relief ideas at a public meeting on Feb. 4 at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, the agencies said Wednesday.

The Federal Reserve's regular economic snapshot showed a moderate but consistent increase in credit quality and demand for banking services nationwide, though the report noted that sources of demand were highly variable and major financial stresses remained in some regions.

A federal agency's plan to tighten membership rules for Federal Home Loan banks would hurt community banks and credit unions — and could endanger the financial system, according to a broad array of stakeholders, including state regulators, lawmakers and institutions.

The investment firm made the decision after veteran analyst Anthony Polini and an associate left to form a new research arm for American Capital Partners.

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods and Sandler O'Neill & Partners commanded the market for bank M&A advisory in 2014, according to data published Wednesday by SNL Financial.

Small banks aren't disappearing-they're just getting bigger. Meanwhile, their large competitors are exiting business lines and selling off units. These changes suggest that regulators would be better off issuing rules based on lenders' level of complexity, relieving institutions that operate by a core banking model of unnecessary burdens.

Capital markets hold the key to the future for the consolidating Wall Street landlords, but the path through is downright bloody.

It took more than year for ViewPoint Financial and LegacyTexas to complete a transformational merger near Dallas. The company, which took the seller's name, is now trying to meet its targets in the face of plummeting oil prices.

JPMorgan Chase has named Jennifer Piepszak as the chief executive of its business-banking division that focuses on firms with revenue of $20 million and below.

American Capital Partners has recruited two Raymond James analysts to launch a research unit focused on small and mid-cap banks in the New York area.

Small-business lending approval rates at big banks and institutional lenders reached post-recession highs in December, while small banks and alternative lenders have seen fewer completed deals, according to Biz2Credit data.

Wintrust Financial in Chicago has formed a division to focus on the city's start-up community.

Freddie Mac in the next month plans to approve three more lenders, including one bank, to make multifamily loans between $1 million and $5 million for GSE purchase and securitization, according to an official. Banks were not initially courted.

Former Rep. Bill Owens has been named a director of Arrow Financial in Glen Falls, N.Y.

Chesapeake Bancorp in Chestertown, Md., has hired Al Wilson as its president and chief executive. Wilson resigned from AmeriServ Financial last month as its chief executive.

Northwest Bancshares in Warren, Pa., has bought B.J. Petruso Agency in Meadville, Pa.

Numerous banks are expected to say they trimmed expenses yet again when they report fourth-quarter results in the coming weeks. But that trend may ebb soon as many executives are forced to spend on technology and to expand their businesses.