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Terry Robinson, a longtime California banker, died on Jan. 11, three days before his Manhattan Bancorp announced a proposed merger with Plaza Bancorp. Manhattan, which is operating under an OCC order, did not publicly disclose Robinson's death, or his Dec. 31 retirement, even though he played an integral role negotiating the merger.

Investors Bancorp in Short Hills, N.J., reported higher quarterly income thanks to a combination of acquisitions and organic growth.

Puppy Bowl fans, keep your TVs turned to Animal Planet on Sunday. FirstBank's new ad campaign was made with you in mind — sort of.

Altura Credit Union on Friday reported $11.6 million in net income for 2014 - its 15th consecutive quarter of positive earnings and fourth straight year of "solid" financial performance.

MB Financial in Chicago reported a sharp rise in quarterly earnings in its first full quarter following the acquisition of Taylor Capital.

Great Western Bancorp in Sioux Falls, S.D., reported lower profit in its first quarter since completing its initial public offering.

The Bancorp in Wilmington, Del., reported a quarterly loss as it racked up higher expenses to resolving anti-money laundering issues.

TCF Financial took $44 million in charges to rid itself of mortgages made before the housing collapse. A distressed-asset investor purchased more than $400 million in loans from the company, and another pool of bad mortgages may be marked for sale soon.

Green Dot reported a net loss in the fourth quarter as it spent money to diversify beyond its flagship prepaid card business.

After a surprising fall swoon, demand for commercial loans bounced back in December. Lenders, meanwhile, are paying much more attention to how falling energy prices could impact loan portfolios.

State Bank Financial in Atlanta reported a decline quarterly profits as the accounting benefits related to its failed-bank purchases continued to wane.

The ATM and bank technology provider Diebold has named two executives to lead its international finance and data security offices.

New York Community Bancorp wants Washington to raise the asset size for systemically important financial institutions, but in the meanwhile its asset sales to stay under the threshold helped to boost profits and its CEO is pursuing possible M&A deals.

Banks with $35 billion or less in assets are slowly recovering financially, as revenue and profit improved in the fourth quarter. Here is a look at how more than 240 banks tracked by American Banker finished off 2014.

Umpqua Holdings in Portland, Ore., fell short of Wall Street expectations for the fourth quarter because of a decline in fee-based income.

Ameris Bancorp in Moultrie, Ga., has has agreed to buy Merchants and Southern Banks of Florida in Gainesville, along with a number of Bank of America branches.

Alamogordo Financial Group in New Mexico has split the roles of president and chief executive.

Banks like Cullen/Frost and BOK Financial say they have found one, in the form of higher energy-sector loan balances last quarter and the chance to finance consolidation among oil firms. But such spurts may only mask longer-term problems.

EverBank Financial in Jacksonville, Fla., reported higher quarterly results largely because of increased commercial originations.

UMB Financial in Kansas City, Mo., reported lower quarterly profits after taking a loss on certain alternative investments.