Regions Financial (RF) in Birmingham continues to beef up its specialty lending capabilities, announcing Tuesday that it has hired three bankers to join its restaurant, healthcare and technology and defense banking groups.

Most of us buy into the thinking that the slow pace of bank M&A is a bad thing. But, unless you are an investment banker or a lawyer who advises on deals, there are a lot of benefits to measured consolidation, some industry observers say.

KeyCorp (KEY) Chairman and Chief Executive Beth Mooney is not swearing off acquisitions, but she made clear Tuesday that they remain low on her list of priorities.

The final price Grandpoint Capital would pay for National Bank of California depends on the seller's loan losses, expenses over two years and other contingencies.

Warren Buffett likes community newspapers and he likes big banks. So, why not community banks, too? Analysts discuss the pros and cons of Berkshire Hathaway investing in community banks.

Grandpoint Capital announced late Monday that it is buying NCAL Bancorp, the holding company for the National Bank of California, a $341 million-asset bank with five branches in southern California.

Zions Bancorp. (ZION) will auction off up to $200 million of senior notes this week to repay its federal aid or other debts.

Autonomous Research in London has recruited Guy Moszkowski and Brian Foran to start its U.S. unit later this year.

A breakdown of M&A announcements for the week ended June 11.

Surprisingly, recovery rates on defaults on leveraged buyouts generally were the same as non-LBOs, Moody's says. Perhaps more surprising: bank LBO loans fared considerably worse.

RENO, Nev. — Members of Sparks City Employees FCU approved the merger of their ailing one-time $16 million credit union into Great Basin FCU, the state's eighth-largest credit union.

Chexar Networks has agreed to acquire Clear Payments of Nashville, Tenn.

The New York firm, formed 50 years ago, survived a tragic setback during the terrorist attacks of 2001.

Continental Bank Holdings of Plymouth Meeting, Pa., has raised $16.5 million through a private placement.

In a rare do-over, members of Montana First CU are being asked again to approve the merger of the state's oldest credit union into Washington's Horizon CU in nearby Spokane Valley, a combination rejected by the membership in January.

BillingTree, an on-demand payment processor, on Monday announced it has again exceeded growth targets, reporting on figures for the first quarter ended March 31.

Activist investor Joseph Stilwell has stepped up his campaign to oust the chief executive at First Financial Northwest (FFNW) in Renton, Wash.

No, the merger wave isn't here, but it has to start somewhere. Data through May 31 shows a foundation to build on once uncertainties about U.S. elections and European economy ease.

Beneficial Mutual Bancorp (BNCL) in Philadelphia said Friday that it has completed its acquisition of hometown rival SE Financial and that SE Financial's former president and chief executive, Pamela Cyr, has joined Beneficial as its chief retail officer.

ViewPoint Bank in Plano, Tex., is selling its home lending unit to a Dallas-based nonbank lender as part of its continued shift from a thrift to a commercial bank.