The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has approved New York Community Bancorp's proposed acquisition of Flagstar Bancorp, the companies announced Friday. The banks are extending the deal deadline to Dec. 31 as they continue to seek the green light from the Federal Reserve.

Republic Bancorp said it would pay $51 million in cash for CBank and its subsidiary Commercial Industrial Finance.

Eighteen months after the $2.6 billion deal was announced — and five days before the Oct. 31 deadline — New York Community is still waiting for regulatory approval to buy the Michigan bank. On their joint earnings call, the companies wouldn't say where the deal stands.

The green light from the central bank is the latest in a series of approvals of billion-dollar bank mergers. However, the Columbia-Umpqua deal is still waiting on a thumbs-up from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

The all-stock acquisition of Limestone Bancorp in Louisville would give the buyer an additional $1.5 billion of assets and 20 branches in the Bluegrass State.

The addition of investment bank Capstone Partners and the wider geographic footprint that resulted from the acquisition of TCF Financial helped drive a 58% increase in net income during the third quarter.

U.S. Bank's new M&A closing date, and new rewards card, and more in banking news this week.

Grupo Financiero Banorte is out of the running for the purchase of Citigroup's Banamex Mexican unit.

The Cincinnati bank reported strong growth from Dividend Finance, which offers renewable energy loans, and Provide, which lends money to health care professionals. The two units were bright spots as the company's net income dropped by 7.2%.

The Washington-based bank is looking to create a Pacific Northwest powerhouse by acquiring Umpqua. The companies are waiting for green lights from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Federal Reserve.