The deal, which is expected to close in mid-2020, would create a company with nearly $18 billion of assets and more than $14 billion of deposits.

BB&T-SunTrust merger closing could slip into 2020; how “the most feared freshman” is shaking up House Banking panel; consumers are split about trusting Amazon, Google with their savings; and more from this week’s most-read stories.

Count Citizens Financial’s Bruce Van Saun among those who think interest rate cuts could halt by mid-2020. The key, he says, is to focus on delivering services customers are willing to pay fees for and to skillfully reprice deposits until then.

The companies say they're working hard to complete their deal this year — including spending millions on retention payments and other items — but there's no guarantee how quickly regulators will make their decisions.

The deal will create a nearly $500 million-asset bank.

The acquisition of Farmers & Merchants Bank created a bank with more than $200 million in assets.

The tiny Monarch Federal Credit Union joined Firefighters & Company FCU in order to offer its 1,000 members a wider range of products.

The deal was announced in August and would have created a $1.3 billion-asset institution.

Rapid-fire acquisitions, partnerships and investments in the likes of Uber, Lyft and Grab are transforming these ride-sharing providers. And much of this activity is built on their ability to handle payments seamlessly as part of the experience.

Readers react to whether the next presidential debate will discuss banking, how California's financial policies are bleeding into other blue states, suggested reforms to the Community Reinvestment Act and more.

The Wisconsin company will have 15 branches in its home state on completing the acquisition.

The company has agreed to buy a portfolio of commercial loans from Santander Bank.

Community banks will likely face questions about mortgage lending, deposit gathering and M&A during earnings calls.

As fintechs like Stripe and Square close in on NCR's traditional businesses, the technology company is adding scale in southeastern markets through a purchase of Midwest POS Solutions.

Hawaii Pacific Federal Credit Union merged into the Honolulu-based institution last week.

Once the Pennsylvania Credit Union Association and the New Jersey Credit Union League complete their merger, the group will go by CrossState Credit Union Association.

The merger of Bi-County PTC Federal Credit Union into BlueOx is expected to be completed on Jan. 1.

The factors that drive small banks to accept acquisition offers and the impact those decisions have on their communities must be better understood, according to the Fed’s Michelle Bowman and the FDIC’s Jelena McWilliams.

Fleet and fuel card company FleetCor is adding to its business lines, a strategy that includes an acquisition of Travelliance that will open a lane into airline lodging program management.

The Montana company will pay $135 million for a bank with 10 branches in seven Arizona markets.