First United Bank in Oklahoma bought a minority stake in Exencial Wealth Advisors instead of acquiring it outright to give the owners an incentive to stick around and help build the business — and to make it easier for the bank to bail if things don't work out.

“You need scale to keep up with necessary technology spend and regulatory costs,” CEO James Hillebrand said in explaining why the bank agreed to buy Commonwealth Bank & Trust just three months after it bought Kentucky Bancshares.

The $29 billion purchase of the Australian installment lender would bring larger retail relationships, as well as a fast-growing product that has appeal to both consumers and merchants.

In late July, the Justice Department notified the Houston bank of a potential lawsuit alleging violations between 2013 and 2017, according to a securities filing. Cadence said that its prospective merger partner, BancorpSouth, supports the settlement discussions.

The $29 billion deal would enable Square to better compete with PayPal and Apple, and provide an opportunity to cross-sell other services to the Australian lender's global audience.

Mutual banks tend to combine only with fellow mutuals. Spencer Savings' deal to acquire a stock-traded rival shows how the pressure to expand is forcing some buyers to get creative.

Two upstate New York credit unions are combining to create an $8 billion-asset institution, continuing a trend of bigger deals driven by a need to match the scale and technological capability of rival banks.

Flagstar’s main business is lending to nonbank mortgage lenders, and New York Community Bancorp CEO Thomas Cangemi has a plan for tapping those borrowers to drive loan and deposit growth.

The high cost of living in the state's bigger markets is limiting growth and turning off buyers. CVB Financial and TriCo Bancshares found sellers in the more affordable cities of Visalia and Bakersfield.

The Rhode Island bank is doubling down on the nation’s largest market after agreeing in May to buy dozens of branches from HSBC. Meanwhile, Investors Bancorp’s decision to sell itself underlines the challenges facing smaller regionals.