Strong fourth-quarter earnings for French terminal maker Ingenico signal good news for the payments industry, and likely for Europe's economy overall.

The sovereign debt crisis affects all of us, whether we're managing risk at a trillion-dollar bank in North America or at Main Street Bank in Small Town, USA. Even if we don't have customers overseas, our customers at home may be affected either directly or indirectly by events on the other side of the Atlantic.

With few banks over $1 billion of assets willing to sell, larger buyers resort to picking off clusters of smaller banks. Pressure to grow outweighs the added costs, executives say.

Reading "Capital One Is Nearly Unscathed in Deal Victory" reminded me of watching ING Direct CEO Arkadi Kuhlmann address a major banking conference several years ago. He presented a detailed description of his unconventional approach to consumer banking and explained how each facet contributed to the success of the initiative.

Bank deal activity eventually has to increase, but predicting the exact timing of consolidation remains hard, says Thomas Michaud, the investment bank's chief.

Citigroup signaled Thursday that it plans to sell its almost 10% stake in Housing Development Finance Corp., a major Indian lender, in a move that could raise $2.1 billion for the New York banking giant.

CEO Douglas Glenn has won the patient support of Carlyle Group and other private-equity investors in the Virginia bank, and cleared the path for an important stock offering.

Ames National Corp. in Iowa has agreed to acquire two branches in the north central region of the state from Liberty Bank.

In a wide-ranging interview, Discover CEO David Nelms expressed reservations about the prepaid industry, vowed to defend Discover's cash-back rewards program at all costs, and said he doesn't plan to go recruiting in Silicon Valley anytime soon.

The parent company of United Legacy Bank in Winter Park, Fla., is buying a large stake in a rival bank in what appears to be the first step toward building a multi-bank holding company.

People's United Financial Inc. in Bridgeport, Conn., is moving to streamline its operations after making five acquisitions in less than three years.

A breakdown of M&A announcements for the latest week

In what would be its latest asset purchase from a European bank, Wells Fargo & Co. announced after markets closed Tuesday that it is acquiring BNP Paribas' North American energy-lending business in all-cash deal.

The growth-hungry Opus Bank in Irvine, Calif., is making good on its plans to grow organically alongside acquisitions.

Warburg Pincus, which has invested in three banks, employed a different strategy than many of its rivals that bought into financial institutions, managing director Daniel Zilberman explains. And it has the strategy for its next round of deals ready to go.

KBW report says Wells would be the frontrunner for Ally's profitable auto financing division, which could fetch as much as $68 billion in a sale.

Alliance Data Systems Corp. has renewed an agreement to provide private-label credit card services to clothing retailer The Buckle Inc.

First Niagara Financial Group Inc. in Buffalo is planning to open at least five new branches in Connecticut this year to go along with the six it is acquiring in the state from HSBC Bank USA.

Merger and acquisition activity by Chinese firms is likely to be heavily focused at home over the next year, but the slowly expanding presence of Chinese firms overseas offers big opportunities for foreign banks active in China, said Huang Xiaoguang, president of Bank of America's China arm.

NCO Group Inc., a Horsham, Pa.-based accounts receivable management company, announced plans Monday to hire an estimated 300 employees for its Customer Contact Center in St. Joseph, Mo., additions that coincide with client expansion opportunities for two Fortune 500 clients in the telecommunications and financial services industries, according to NCO officials.