The industry hopes that the bigger hurdles to bank mergers under President Biden will fade in the new administration. But populist opposition to consolidation in the tech sector could spill over into banking.

The Greenville, South Carolina-based company said it would pay $80 million in stock to acquire ANB Holdings and its Miami-area bank.

The Sandy, Utah-based credit union opted to part with its two New Mexico branches to focus on other geographies. At least one expert expects an uptick in branch sales as more credit unions seek to "right-size" their networks.

St. Paul, Minnesota-based Bremer Financial agreed to sell for $1.4 billion in cash and stock. It followed a yearslong legal battle between the bank and its largest shareholder that ended with a settlement this year.

The Federal Reserve released additional information about its periodic review of its monetary policy strategy, tools and communications framework; TD Bank Group announced Michelle Myers will succeed Anita O'Dell as global chief auditor; Provident Financial Services will expand its commercial lending team; and more in this week's banking news roundup.

The companies held out hope that they'd get skeptical regulators to sign off on their $286 million deal before determining that canceling it was in their best interests.

Goldman Sachs' global head of digital assets said plans for the new company are in the early stages, but the long-term goal is to execute the spinoff within the next 12 to 18 months.

The number of banks announcing plans to sell this year reached 108 by the end of Oct.; Truist Financial promoted Brad Bender to chief risk officer; Old Point Financial made Cathy W. Liles its chief financial officer; and more in this week's banking news roundup.

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., whose chances of getting confirmed as attorney general are unclear in the wake of allegations of sex trafficking and a House ethics probe against him, cuts a more populist profile than many expected from a Republican president.

The Financial Conduct Authority plans to regulate specific technology products that banks use to process payments and require testing. That and more in our global payments roundup.

Financial advisers have been retained to find a buyer for the Saint Paul-based lender, people familiar with the matter said. The sale of the bank has been a sore point for about five years.

DFCU Financial reached a deal to acquire Winter Park National Bank in the Orlando metropolitan area. It was a record 20th credit union-bank merger of the year.

During Donald Trump's last presidency, the massive merger that created Truist shook up the industry. What's coming this time around?

The Honolulu-based seller had faced pushback from an investor group that stepped in with a competing offer. But it ultimately secured enough votes to approve the sale to Hope Bancorp.

Consumer groups and banks are pushing for increased regulation on credit unions, aligning on concerns over tax exemptions, consumer protection standards, and the rising trend of credit union acquisitions of community banks.

U.S. Bancorp is splitting its payment services business in half; Flagstar Financial continues to fill out its leadership with an eye toward tech and risk management; First Horizon authorized an additional $350 million in stock buybacks for its $1 billion share repurchase plan; and more in this week's banking news roundup.

HomeStreet and FirstSun are working to devise a new formula after the Texas Department of Banking and the Federal Reserve declined to approve their merger application.

The buyer said it would pay $127 million in stock to acquire William Penn Bancorp in suburban Bristol, Pennsylvania.

The Honolulu-based banks were reportedly in advanced discussions. But the would-be buyer said "the parties are no longer currently engaged in discussions."

The $24 billion-asset bank fully integrated its acquisition of Lakeland Bancorp during the third quarter, and that milestone has positioned the bank for growth, executives said.