Investors Bancorp had hardly announced its deal for Roma Financial, a fellow mutual thrift in New Jersey, than speculation began whether it should buy more mutuals before it restructures and is barred from doing so.

We revisit our 10 most popular BankThink posts of 2012, based on audience page views.

Large banks could learn a lot from James Black, the CEO of Citizens Community Bank in South Hill, Va., about listening to employees, informing shareholders and setting a clear direction.

CEO Victor Karpiak will resign as chairman, and Stilwell Group will add a representative to the Washington company's board.

Chris Bauer says Anchor's "emergency" days are over, but the Wisconsin company is still losing money and operating under a regulatory order.

The $2.1 billion-asset parent of Stock Yards Bank & Trust said Thursday that it would pay roughly $7.8 million in cash and $11.7 million in stock for the $137 million-asset Bancorp, which owns The Bank Oldham County.

Central Valley Community Bancorp (CVCY) in Fresno, Calif., is buying Visalia Community Bank (VSMU) in Visalia, Calif., for roughly $22 million.

Debt-buying giant Portfolio Recovery Associates Inc. on Thursday announced the close of a $600 million credit facility to fund business operations and expansion.

Investors Bancorp of Short Hills, N.J., has agreed to buy Roma Financial Corp. of Robbinsville, N.J. The deal, scheduled to close in the second quarter, would bring together two mutual thrifts and create a company with assets of more than $13 billion.

Adding to a storehouse of capital and maintaining strong regulatory relationships are among the banking veteran's top priorities following a failed bid to sell his company in early 2012.

The bank is retrenching from some of the country's wealthiest suburbs, abandoning some of its years-long efforts to cultivate affluent customers.

Sierra Vista in Folsom, Calif., is the kind of bank typically marked for extinction. But it has raised enough equity to try to make itself into a buyer, or a more appealing takeover target.

Six months after settling a legal battle with Capital One, John Kanas is eager to start hiring employees and opening branches in the Big Apple.

A year ago we asked BankThink's regular contributors to make bold predictions about 2012. Here's a look back at their forecasts and the actual outcomes.

The company landed $85 million to fuel organic growth at a time when most banks are attracting large investments for acquisitions.

Michael Tierney's challenge next year at Flagstar Bancorp is twofold: find ways to go on the offensive while continuing to resolve lingering issues at the Michigan company.

Dan Bass has left FBR Capital Markets to establish an investment banking platform at Performance Trust Capital Partners.

Oneida Financial in New York is expanding its insurance business with its purchase of McMahon, Fenaroli and White, which operates Schenectady Insuring Agency in Schenectady.

Every banker is under scrutiny, but last year we pegged 10 executives as potential news makers for 2012. Some made big headlines; others seemed to get through the year without making much noise. Here is a recap.

Fulton Financial has agreed to sell a payments business to Canadian group.