Community banks are disappearing and big banks' global power is on the wane. Regulators should take steps to reverse these trends so that all Americans have access to the financial services they need, according to the American Bankers Association's Wayne Abernathy.

South State reported higher second quarter earnings compared to last year, as the Columbia, S.C., company expanded through the combination of SCBT and First Financial Holdings.

Victor K. Nichols, a former executive at Experian, has joined the board of the Bank of Hawaii in Honolulu.

S&T Bancorp in Indiana, Pa., reported higher second-quarter earnings driven by loan growth and a credit for its loan-loss provision.

Though satisfying examiners remains a priority, their decisions about how and where to deploy resources are being mostly driven by the desire to meet customers' changing demands, according to a new survey from the advisory firm KPMG.

United Bankshares, in Charleston, W.Va., reported an increase in second-quarter earnings, in part because of its acquisition of Virginia Commerce Bancorp in Arlington.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. issued five corrective actions and three money penalties in June, according to the agency's monthly roundup of regulatory actions.

Interest rates for mortgages over $417,000 have fallen 11 basis points during the past six weeks, driven by competition among banks to win the mortgage business of wealthy, less risky borrowers and in turn, make them customers of other financial products.

Shares for Sterling Bancorp in Montebello, N.Y., rose after the company posted stronger quarterly income tied to its merger with Provident New York Bancorp.

Sun Bancorp in Mount Laurel, N.J., has agreed to hire four new executives, promoted another executive, and hired a technology consulting firm.

Heartland Financial USA in Dubuque, Iowa, posted higher second-quarter earnings after growing loans organically and through acquisitions.

Eagle Bancorp in Bethesda, Md., plans to raise $55 million by issuing subordinated debt.

Following a wave of enforcement actions against global and national institutions, regulators are now scrutinizing the anti-money laundering controls of community banks, says Walter Mix, a consultant and former regulator. Examiners are raising questions about banks' transaction monitoring systems, as well as the documentation supporting decisions about enhanced due diligence (such as whether to file suspicious activity reports), he says.

Bank of Hawaii in Honolulu reported that second-quarter profit rose on growth in commercial and consumer loans, and from higher returns on securities investments.

Bridge Bancorp in Bridgehampton, N.Y., reported higher quarterly earnings following the acquisition of FNBNY Bancorp earlier this year.

Opus Bank's expansion into new areas of lending helped pushed its loans up 44% in the second quarter from a year earlier.

Capitol Federal Financial in Topeka, Kan., reported a higher quarterly profit as costs for Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings and compensation declined.

Independent Bank Corp. in Ionia, Mich., reported lower second quarter earnings as income related to mortgages fell dramatically.

Old National Bancorp in Evansville, Ind., has agreed to acquire Founders Financial in Grand Rapids, Mich., for $88.2 million in cash and stock.

Performance among banks and thrifts with $2 billion to $10 billion of assets has not changed much over the past year, judging from our annual ranking.