Kearny Financial in Kearny, N.J., has adopted a plan to convert to a public stock company.

Real estate agents have a lot of advice for mortgage lenders about how to do their job better, according to a new TD Bank survey.

A large shareholder at Valley Community Bank is objecting to the Pleasanton, Calif., company's sale to FNB Bancorp in South San Francisco.

A judge has ruled that the involuntary bankruptcy of FMB Bancshares in Lakeland, Ga., may proceed, a decision that could embolden more trust-preferred creditors to pursue a similar strategy.

BBVA Compass Bancshares in Birmingham, Ala., plans to hire 10 community relations officers to help improve its community reinvestment record.

More banks are considering switching to a universal banker model, where selling products and services becomes more important. The transition requires patience, planning and training.

Howard Bancorp in Ellicott City, Md., raised nearly $500,000 in capital after management and directors exercised warrants to buy common stock.

One reason so many federal thrifts have switched to other charters is that the Qualified Thrift Lender test impedes their commercial lending. However, a top regulator says he wants it eliminated.

Congressional Bancshares in Bethesda, Md., has agreed to buy American Bank Holdings in Bethesda.

Intervest Bancshares in New York has officially exited the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Leaders of large community banks in the Southeast are keen on acquisitions, though their level of interest varies widely. Some, like Home BancShares in Arkansas, are eager to line up the next big deal. Others, including Bank of the Ozarks, seem content to steal lenders and open offices after several years of acquisitions.

CrossFirst Bank in Leawood, Kansas, has opened a new division to serve the oil, gas and energy markets and hired a team of five bankers with experience in this sector.

Ronald R. Reed has resigned as chief executive of Citizens Independent Bancorp in Logan, Ohio, and its bank unit.

Allowing branch workers to come up with handmade signs and offbeat contests can help banks increase both customer and employee engagement, according to consultant Dave Martin.

First South Bancorp in Washington, N.C., has become the latest community bank to buy branches from Bank of America.

Mt. Washington Savings Bank in Cincinnati is planning to convert from a mutual savings and loan association to a company partly owned by public shareholders.

Cardinal Financial in Tysons Corner, Va., has agreed to buy a Virginia branch from Virginia Heritage Bank.

The company is opening high-tech loan production offices and using data analytics to match customers with products. But like other banks seeking to modernize, Seacoast is trying to balance short-term needs with costly long-term investments.

Banks with large mortgage operations are struggling with lower profit margins, detrimental fair-value accounting rules and new regulations that add cost. The market is discounting their stocks as a result, but many of these banks say the blanket assessment is unfair.

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has charged Evans Bancorp in Hamburg, N.Y., with deliberately failing to provide mortgages in minority neighborhoods in Buffalo.