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.

JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America plan to start offering FICO scores they have on customers to them for free, according to a statement released Monday by the White House.

Avenue Financial Holdings in Nashville, Tenn., is looking to raise $30 million through an initial public offering.

Ted Peters likes to build things and he does not like retirement. The veteran banker will soon solicit outside investors for a fund that he hopes will amass $100 million to pump into promising community banks.

The mobile platform most bankers had all but given up on is showing signs of life. But the changes seem unlikely to persuade financial institutions, many of which have quietly discontinued or abandoned their native BlackBerry apps.

City Holding in Charleston, W. Va., has sold its insurance division to The Hilb Group, a broker based in Richmond, Va.

U.S. auto lending is still booming, but those in the industry are not smiling as widely as you might expect.

The former Eagle Scout accused of running the $1.2 billion online drug bazaar "Silk Road" may face life in prison if convicted in a trial where jurors will hear allegations he tried to arrange the murders of six people.

Complaints about debt collection are growing among service members. There are now more than 11,000 complaints from service members, veterans and military families since the CFPB began accepting them 18 months ago.

Customers affected by cyberattacks frequently direct their wrath at financial institutions, whether or not a bank is responsible for the breach. Therefore banks need to have a strategic communications strategy in place.

Doral Financial continues to go back and forth with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. over the San Juan, Puerto Rico, company's capital restoration plan.

Malvern Bancorp in Paoli, Pa., has entered a partnership with Bell Rock Capital in Delaware to offer wealth management services.

COLUMBUS, Ohio—Telhio CU has purchased a former Huntington Bank branch here for $2.5 million, with plans to renovate and move in by early 2016.

Central Valley Community Bank in Fresno, Calif., plans to report a fourth-quarter loss because of a hefty chargeoff of commercial loans.

Online lending marketplaces claim that they will revolutionize the financial services industry. But financial companies need a lot more than high-tech prowess to achieve sustained success.

Nationwide the number of bank branches fell by about 1.7% last year. But some cities and states were hit harder than others, according to data from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and research firm BankRegData.