The third quarter had fewer deals compared to the second quarter, but three fundamental attributes of normalized M&A appeared: bigger players, shorter regulatory approvals times and interest from more buyers.

Three of the most powerful women in banking go beyond the balance sheet.

Defining your bank's limits on earnings and minimum capital requirements can help safeguard against the reckless pursuit of return on equity.

Thursday night's celebration of American Banker's Most Powerful Women in Banking turned into a call for action for companies to build a pipeline of female leaders. "If we stick to the current rate of turnover, it's going to take 75 years to reach parity," said outgoing HSBC USA chief Irene Dorner.

First Commonwealth Financial in Indiana, Pa., has acquired Thompson/McLay Insurance Associates.

Complete Financial Solutions in Spokane, Wash., has agreed to buy Northern Star Financial in Mankato, Minn.

The head of Key's charitable foundation is lauded at American Banker's Most Powerful Women in Banking Gala for her role in improving educational opportunities for low-income and minority students in Cleveland.

Kyle Waters and Andy Bower announced the creation of Loan Evaluation Services this week. The firm will provide independent loan portfolio reviews for community and regional banks that are planning to make acquisitions or have a need for third-party loan portfolio reviews.

Independent originators could be shut out from offering this product as there is no secondary market.

The Federal Reserve Board has published an 11-page guide for banks looking to acquire large rivals.

Smaller institutions are likely to report stable net interest margins, even as competition for the best credits remains fierce. Loan volume could suffer from a seasonal slowdown, while investors would be keen to track commentary on loan structure.

Community West Bancshares in Goleta, Calif., is continuing to find ways to buy back stock it issued through the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Veritex Holdings in Dallas could sell up to $40.4 million of its common stock as part of its initial public offering.

NewBridge Bancorp in Greensboro, N.C., has agreed to buy Premier Commercial Bank in Greensboro.

Heritage Commerce in San Jose, Calif., has agreed to buy the parent company of factoring firm Bay View Funding in Santa Clara, Calif.

Banks have ceded market share to business-development companies, hedge funds and others when it comes to loans to midsize companies. Unless banks strengthen cross-selling techniques and embrace technology soon, then competition, Basel III and other forces will eat into their profits.

In a piece on The Clearing House website, Comptroller of the Currency Thomas Curry said the culture fostered by top executives can have more to do with creating problems at banks than individual bad decisions.

The Salt Lake City bank has formalized programs to help employees who are in the reserves or have active-duty spouses and children deployed far from home. Its efforts range from raising funds for a family with a severely injured son, to hiring a landscaping firm to mow the lawn of an employee in need.

Prosperity thought it had its bases covered, adding a clause in an employment agreement with lenders at an acquired bank in Oklahoma establishing Texas law as the jurisdiction for the contract. A judge disagreed in a decision that should get the attention of banks eyeing out-of-state deals.

Everything is on the table — including the table — as banks accelerate their efforts to trim real estate costs. Options range from subleasing branches that are too large to finding professional investors who will buy the branches and lease back a portion of them.