Flush with capital from issuing subordinated debt, Peapack-Gladstone is exploring acquisitions in Florida and New York in an effort to generate more fee revenue.

Cardtronics will accept a $1.7 billion sale to NCR after the ATM producer outbid Apollo Global Management and Hudson Executive Capital.

Mergers and acquisitions were largely on ice in 2020, but banks' mounting need to control expenses and invest heavily in technology could spur a comeback this year.

Pandemic-induced shifts in how people work and bank will allow the Tennessee company to shed more branches and office space. It now projects it will slash expenses by an additional $30 million a year.

The digital bank for students, which recently merged with a blank-check company, can tap its new source of capital to diversify and pursue more white-label partnerships.

Southern Bancorp, which recently raised $35 million in capital, agreed to acquire DeWitt First Bankshares, the parent of Arkansas County Bank.

Payoneer, an online payments specialist, is in talks to go public through a merger with FTAC Olympus Acquisition Corp., a blank-check firm, according to people with knowledge of the matter. FTAC rose as much as 29% on the news.

Providence, R.I.-based Citizens Financial has largely focused on nonbank deals in recent years, but CEO Bruce Van Saun said the race for scale in the industry is prompting more banks — including his own — to consider mergers.

The company, poised to complete its purchase of Radius Bank, will enjoy new cross-selling opportunities, gain additional sources of fee income and capital as well as benefit from greater regulatory clarity, CEO Scott Sanborn says.

The Illinois company has agreed to pay $191 million for the parent of Glenview State Bank.