Steven Sugarman, chief executive at Banc of California, recently completed a large branch acquisition after a public battle with an advocacy group. In a recent interview, he discussed that process as well as the bank's busy year — both the good and the bad.

First Financial Bancorp in Cincinnati has shuffled its C-Suite and appointed a new president.

First Financial Northwest in Renton, Wash., has gotten regulatory approval to receive a $70 million dividend from its bank unit.

Carver Bancorp in New York said Deborah Wright will retire as chief executive at the end of the year. The company's current president will succeed her.

In-store branches are a good example of the quandaries in retail banking. BOK Financial calls them outdated and has decided to ditch them, but Huntington and Fifth Third say they are high-volume sources of new accounts.

John Hairston, set to become the Mississippi company's sole CEO, said Carl Chaney was not forced out as co-CEO. Still, he said the departure allows Hancock to streamline operations and become more efficient.

MSB Financial Corp., a mutual thrift firm in Millington, N.J., plans to reorganize into a fully stock-owned company.

First Horizon National in Memphis, Tenn., is looking to raise $400 million by issuing debt.

California Republic Bancorp in Irvine, Calif., has raised $90 million through an offering of equity and debt.

Wells Financial in Wells, Minn., has agreed to buy St. James Federal Savings and Loan Association in St. James, Minn.

BNC Bancorp in High Point, N.C., has agreed to buy Valley Financial in Roanoke, Va.

A number of credit union and bank executives have been ignoring the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cyber Security, waiting for the federal government to issue more definitive guidance.

John A. Allison writes in his new book that he feared for years that predecessors of Wachovia or Bank of America would try and force BB&T to sell itself. In this excerpt, he explains how he kept the banking giants at bay. Part 5 of 5.

The Connecticut company just recaptured its deferred-tax asset, which padded third-quarter earnings. Still, some observers believe Patriot National's improved health, and presence in affluent markets, could lure suitors.

First Niagara Financial Group Inc. climbed as much as 4.6 percent, the best performance in the KBW Bank Index, after senior managers, including Chief Executive Officer Gary Crosby, bought shares of the lender this week.

New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer's creative effort to give shareholders more power to nominate board candidates will be an uphill battle, but community banks are taking it seriously — and larger banks may ultimately have to do so, too.

Nonbank acquisitions require a certain level of expertise, John Allison writes in his new book. In this excerpt, he discusses how BB&T views the insurance business and why he stuck with subprime auto finance when others bailed. Part 4 of 5.

John Hairston will stay in the newly combined role, while Carl Chaney plans to retire on Dec. 31. Hancock has been pressed by Wall Street in recent years to get more aggressive cutting costs after buying Whitney Bank.

Royal Financial in Chicago has agreed to buy PNA Bank in Chicago.

Bank industry representatives initially panned the concept of the Postal Service offering retail banking products. But as the government official behind the idea has made clear that he is interested in collaboration with the private sector, attitudes have begun to change.