Flagstar Bancorp in Troy, Mich., is paying $371 million to put behind it the vestiges of its dealings with the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

First Bank in Hamilton, N.J., has raised $13.7 million by selling common stock.

After years of bulking up on shared national credits, a number of regional banks are cutting back because of the heartburn from problem oil and gas loans. A few lenders are refusing to budge, but many will have no choice if they want to dilute the energy risk on their books.

The Canadian company took its time before making a bank acquisition in the U.S. The wait allowed management to address internal performance, assess the market and find the right bank to buy.

Laurentian Bank of Canada agreed to buy CIT Group Inc.'s Canadian equipment and corporate financing activities, adding a C$1 billion ($770 million) portfolio to the Montreal-based lender.

BancorpSouth Bank agreed Wednesday to a $10.6 million settlement with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Justice Department for allegedly discriminatory mortgage lending practices that harmed minorities.

The Little Rock, Ark., bank got the final regulatory approval it needed to buy C&S and C1, but not before agreeing to address some community reinvestment concerns in the Atlanta market and elsewhere.

Iberiabank in Lafayette, La., has added a retired investment banker to its board. The $20 billion-asset company said in a press release Tuesday that Rick Maples, who once was head of investment banking at Stifel Financial, had become a director.

The Canadian company is determined to rely on low-cost deposits, lending prowess and cross-selling to justify the price it will pay for PrivateBancorp. Each of those strategies could backfire, highlighting why most acquirers emphasize cost-cutting when pitching a deal.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in Toronto has agreed to buy PrivateBancorp in Chicago for $3.8 billion, finally giving the Canadian bank a meaningful retail presence in the United States.

First Midwest Bancorp in Itasca, Ill., has agreed to buy Standard Bancshares in Hickory Hills, Ill.

Amegy Bank of Texas in Houston has promoted Laif Afseth from executive director of commercial and industrial lending to president of the company.

Dollar Bank in Pittsburgh has agreed to buy Bank @lantec in Virginia Beach.

A trio of banks will buy more than $1.4 billion in franchise loans from GE Capital.

Bay Bancorp in Columbia, Md., has named one of its largest investors, Steven Hovde, to its board.

Suffolk Bancorp said increased oversight of commercial real estate contributed to — and may have accelerated — its decision to sell to People's United. Other banks could make a similar choice.

BankFinancial in Olympia Fields, Ill., said it expects to record an $875,000 gain in the second quarter after selling three loans.

Berkshire Hills Bancorp in Pittsfield, Mass., has agreed to buy First Choice Bank in Lawrenceville, N.J.

People's United Financial in Bridgeport, Conn., has agreed to buy Suffolk Bancorp in Riverhead, N.Y.

Perhaps you read on vacation to escape the financial services grind, or perhaps you read to hone your business craft. Numerous titles on this year's list — recommended by American Banker readers, BankThink contributors, our staff and others — fall somewhere in between. Read about the lives of figures like Elon Musk or Barney Frank. Understand disruption, human error and how to manage stress. Or, perhaps you just want some insight into the sociopath's playbook. It's all here.