Eastern Financial Corp. provides a rich source of low-cost deposits that the larger Mercantile Bancorp can put to work in funding its much stronger loan growth.

A July pickup in activity is just a start, experts say. The banking industry's drive for scale and greater efficiency is expected to drive a renewed wave of consolidation, pushing the institution count lower.

The banking subsidiary of Western Alliance Bancorporation is discarding six brand names to unify under the Western Alliance Bank moniker; longtime JPMorgan advisor Vishal Idnani will join Western Alliance as its next CFO; First Community in Lexington, South Carolina, will acquire Signature Bank of Georgia; and more in this week's banking news roundup.

Prosperity Bancshares announced plans to buy Corpus Christi-based American Bank Holding Corp. in an all-stock deal.

A spike in the bank's noninterest income powered its better-than-expected net income and revenue in the second quarter.

The Pittsburgh-based bank's average loans increased 2% from the prior quarter, its largest jump since the end of 2022.

As the $4.6 trillion-asset bank looks to deploy its excess capital, investing in growth is the top priority. But there aren't many tempting acquisition opportunities for the megabank right now, CEO Jamie Dimon said Tuesday.

The Columbus, Ohio-based company plans to acquire Veritex Holdings, which has grown into one of the Lone Star State's biggest commercial banks over the past 15 years.

The buyer said its $70 million cash-and-stock deal for Farmers State Bank will boost its presence in the northeast section of Ohio, and provide plenty of low-cost deposits

Business First Bancshares CEO Jude Melville and Progressive Bancorp head George Cummings are both second-generation bank CEOs — common ground that helped propel an $83 million merger deal.