A half billion dollars in PE funding has breathed life into North Carolina banking, raising questions about whether community bankers nationwide should be teaming up with Mitt Romney's old industry.

Crestmark Bancorp of Troy, Mich., has purchased the working capital loan portfolio from First Citizens Bank and has entered into partnership with the Raleigh, N.C., company.

In what would be its first acquisition since its founding in 2007, fast-growing First Virginia Community Bank has agreed to buy 1st Commonwealth Bank of Virginia.

A fight between ECB Bancorp in North Carolina and the Gibbs family foreshadows clashes at many community banks between today's managers and ownership interests from yesteryear.

Sallie Mae has introduced new rewards for its relaunched Upromise World Mastercard, which is now issued by Barclaycard US.

A shareholder group that includes a former ECB director has urged directors of the Engelhard, N.C., company to remove Dwight Utz as president and chief executive.

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.