Hampton Roads Bankshares in Norfolk, Va., has completed its $45 million rights offering, though its private-equity partners were the largest contributors.

Aquiline Capital Partners, a private-equity firm based in New York, is buying First Investors Financial Services Group, a Houston auto lender, for $100 million.

Banks are growing increasingly worried that the failure to stem impending tax hikes and steep budget cuts could reduce lending demand, savage profits and cripple M&A activity.

The $1.5 billion-asset Fidelity said it plans to consolidate its existing branch in Liberty, N.C., into the newly acquired location less than a mile away.

Forget the chitchat, find seasoned bankers (especially from your previous employer) and invite them over to meet the CEO — that's the recruiting formula Rodney Rushing uses at ServisFirst.

Rusty Cloutier, the Lafayette, La., company's CEO, says MidSouth can double in size over the next five years without making another large acquisition.

Kentucky First Federal Bancorp (KFFB) has received approval from Federal Reserve Board to waive its right to receive a dividend.

Getting a good deal is sometimes about more than fetching top dollar, as private-equity investors in West Coast Bancorp demonstrate in their agreement to sell to Columbia Banking.

First Bancorp in Troy, N.C., has agreed to buy a branch from Four Oaks Fincorp in Rockingham and will also acquire $64 million in deposits and $22 million in loans associated with a branch in Southern Pines.

MidSouth Bancorp (MSL) in Lafayette, La., is expanding northward with an agreement to buy PSB Financial in Many, La., for $39 million.

Noble Systems Corp., an Atlanta-based contact center technology services firm, makes its second company acquisition announcement this week.

West Coast Bancorp's pending $506 million sale to Columbia Banking System could serve as a green light for private equity firms itching to cash out of post-crisis bank investments.

While criticizing big bank bailouts, the former FDIC chairman highlights instances where small firms — including United Commercial Bank and ShoreBank — were closed even with alternatives available.

Large expectation value gaps reflect either an investor relations communication problem or questions concerning the validity of management's plan. They can ultimately attract unwanted suitors and hurt a bank's future prospects.

Both TD Bank (TD) and Scotiabank (BNS) may be among more than 15 bidders for the non-U.S. operations of Ally Financial, Reuters reported late Tuesday.

Aspiring consolidators are weighing the advantages of attracting lending teams instead of making outright acquisitions.

Fidelity Bancorp, Western Liberty and Savannah Bancorp artfully structured deals to sell themselves, and are rushing to complete them, in case Congress raises capital gains taxes next year.

Columbia Banking System has agreed to buy West Coast Bancorp. The acquisition, valued at about $506 million, will create a community bank in the Pacific Northwest with more than $7 billion in assets.

Dwight Utz wanted to accelerate his North Carolina company's growth by bringing in private equity. Less than year after ECB's plans fell through, the company agreed to sell to Crescent Financial, which has plenty of backing from private equity firms.

PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust has agreed to buy $452 million of nonperforming whole loans from undisclosed sellers, according to a recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.