A credit union CEO takes issue with the narrative that the purchase of community banks by credit unions is a dangerous trend. In fact, he argues, it's rare, and when it happens, it benefits the communities those banks serve.

Comerica announced the promotion of Kristina Janssens to be its next chief risk office; Washington Trust hired James "Jim" Brown, an executive from Berkshire Bank, as its chief commercial banking officer; Citizens Financial pledged $20 million to support workforce development programs; and more in this week's banking news roundup.

Visa is introducing a premium service to the Middle East, and Lloyds Banking says its cash protection product is showing results. Plus, Brex teams up with Doordash and more in the American Banker global payments and fintech roundup.

The Denver-based bank-holding company's pending acquisition of Vista Bancshares in Dallas is an opportunity to expand into key fast-growing Texas markets and deepen its talent bench, CEO Tim Laney told analysts.

The Massachusetts bank is being accused of aiding and abetting the operation of a Ponzi scheme centered in Hamilton, New York. The bank declined to comment on the allegations.

City National Bank promotes Brandon Williams to head private banking and wealth management; a former U.S. Postal Service letter carrier is sentenced to five and a half years for stealing over $10 million in checks from the mail; Lazard expands its North American investment banking franchise with two managing director hires; and more in this week's banking news roundup.

The CEOs of Pinnacle Financial Partners and Synovus Financial — two banks that recently announced a deal to join forces — say they've ironed out all the critical sticking points that bedeviled previous mergers of equals.

Bill Demchak said at an industry conference that PNC effectively "bought Colorado" with its recently announced plan to acquire the $27 billion-asset FirstBank.

CEO Curtis Farmer tried to assure skeptics Tuesday that the Dallas-based bank is focused on shareholder value and profitability, even as an activist investor group prepares to launch a board fight.

The Columbus, Ohio-based regional bank announced plans to acquire Dallas-based Veritex Financial in July. On Monday, a Huntington executive called the deal a "springboard" for additional organic growth.

The Pittsburgh-based company's plan to buy FirstBank marks its first bank deal since its purchase of BBVA USA in 2021, which rapidly propelled its presence in the South and Southeast.

Equity Bancshares is expanding into Nebraska with the proposed acquisition of Omaha-based Frontier Holdings; Valley National Bancorp taps Patrick Smith as its new president of consumer banking; Northern Trust in Chicago promoted Michael Hunstad to president of asset management; and more in this week's banking news roundup.

The proposed Berkshire Hills-Brookline merger is expected to finalize on Sept. 1; Flagstar Financial has scheduled a special shareholders' meeting to simplify the bank's regulatory structure; former Credit Suisse executives agreed to settle a suit filed by shareholders claiming they failed to maintain adequate risk management; and more in this week's banking news roundup.

On Thursday, the two banks disclosed a presentation that seeks to reinforce the strategic rationale behind the proposed $8.6 billion deal.

A recent bargaining session was interrupted when union representatives learned that a Wells executive who wasn't in the room could hear what was being said. The bank maintains that it was a simple mistake involving a Microsoft Team meeting that should have been disconnected, but union officials aren't buying that story.

Erik Porter will succeed Lisa Oliver as president and CEO of the Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod; Gary Hall and Sobani Warner are named co-presidents of Siebert Williams Shank; Faiz Ahmad and Mike Joo will lead Bank of America's global investment banking unit; and more in this week's banking news roundup.

Bank of Glen Burnie, which is seeking to recover from a stretch when its assets declined, hopes that its deal for a residential lender can help boost loan production.

The Ohio bank bought DTS Connex to expand its cash management services for businesses with multiple locations, like retailers, restaurants and health care providers.

Bloomberg reports that Citi has enlisted a law firm to look into complaints about Andy Sieg's behavior to current and former colleagues, including former private banking head Ida Liu.

The faster timelines for completing bank mergers this year reflects a transformed regulatory environment under the Trump administration. In several cases, deals have closed just a few months after they've been announced.