Wells Fargo is among several American institutions trying to capitalize on strong ties between the U.S. and Canada and capture clients doing business on both sides of the border.

There are too many banks that "cannot survive," the heads of CertusBank say in discussing their recent acquisition of a failed bank and predictions of more to come.

More banks are looking to outsource advisory tasks as compliance costs rise, though some observers believe the trend could lead to more oversight of the actual vendor relationships.

Coronado First Bank (NADO) in California has agreed to buy San Diego Private Bank for roughly $15.5 million in stock.

Cardinal Bankshares said that falling property valuations and foreclosure charges contributed to a loss during its third quarter.

Banks must understand the risks associated with a potential partnership, assess how the effort will support their overall strategy and hire the right talent to manage the venture once it has been approved.

Charter Financial in West Point, Ga., plans to sell additional stock and convert to a full public company from a mutual.

These banks have outperformed industry averages for years and continued to do so in 2012, avoiding the exceptional losses that often follow exceptional returns.

U.S. Bank in Minneapolis would gain an in-house prepaid card processor and tap a rich corporate payroll segment in buying FSV Payment Systems.

StoneCastle Cash Management, an investment adviser that provides funding solutions for community banks, is buying a listing service for buyers and sellers of certificates of deposit.

Margin pressure, regulatory hurdles and intense competition will test the nation's smallest banks next year, industry experts predict. Those issues could lead to a resurgence of consolidation among community banks.

Regulators released new details on how they will enforce restrictions on charter swaps by troubled banks.

U.S. Bancorp is beefing up its prepaid card business.

FICO has acquired CR Software LLC, a provider of collections and recovery services for credit issuers, collection agencies, health care providers and other enterprises. Terms are not being disclosed.

The president and chief executive of Bar Harbor Bankshares (BHB) in Maine will retire in June. Joseph M. Murphy has held those positions at the company and its Bar Harbor Bank & Trust unit since 2002.

A breakdown of M&A announcements in the financial services industry for the week ended November 24.

Taylor Capital, Standard Bancshares and Community Financial Services are in the process of raising $260 million, prompting calls that the consolidation of still overbanked Chicago will heat up next year.

Whether it's Warren Buffett's latest views on taxes or his missives to shareholders, market watchers hang on the billionaire's every word. His company Berkshire Hathaway's big stakes in Wells Fargo, Bank of America and American Express have spoken loudly about whom he favors in banking. Click to view highlights of his long, sometimes bumpy, history with banks.

Lingering credit issues and a lengthy CEO search had led some industry observers to wonder if the Mississippi bank might sell itself. The decision to hire the former president of a successful Texas bank might put those rumors to rest.

Bruce Lee will step down as its chief credit officer for Fifth Third Bank (FITB) in Cincinnati, for personal reasons, at the end of the year, the $117 billion-asset company said Monday.