An executive from Regions Financial said recently that his bank plans to pad fee income by expanding into syndication of low-income housing credits. The comment shed light on an increasingly competitive business — and reminded the world again how eager banks are for even incremental boosts to revenue.

FirstMerit reached out to a foreign bank last fall in an effort to negotiate a sale, but the Ohio company eventually agreed to sell itself to Huntington Bancshares for $3.4 billion.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has given community banks and other small companies more flexibility to issue private stock, but even more flexibility should be granted to fulfill congressional intent.

WSFS Financial Corporation in Wilmington, Del., is looking to raise $100 million through the sale of notes and plans to use the proceeds for a range of purposes, including possible acquisitions.

Farmers & Merchants Bancorp in Lodi, Calif., has agreed to buy Delta National Bancorp in Manteca, Calif.

Trustmark in Jackson, Miss., reduced its workforce by more than 6% by offering early retirement packages.

Wintrust Financial in Rosemont, Ill., is planning to raise about $160 million through a common stock offering.

PNC Financial Services Group has been named the official bank of the University of Kentucky, its 50th such partnership with a college or university.

A longtime California bank regulator and executive has joined the board at Hanmi Financial in Los Angeles.

The financial crisis, and its aftermath, created a new layer of regulation to consider. A growing need to fund technology projects and an uncertain rate environment have only made it harder to forecast revenue and expenses.

Bank of America will move its mortgage servicing back onto Black Knight Financial Services' LoanSphere MSP servicing system of record.

Hot demand for shares of Enterprise Bancorp in Lowell, Mass., has prompted the bank to double the size of its secondary offering.

A push for having an independent chairman gained traction immediately after the financial crisis. Years later, the effort seems to be losing momentum.

The $1.7 billion-asset company disclosed in a regulatory filing Monday that it recently agreed to buy a 25% stake in ASC Trust Corp. in Hagatna.

Community banks are jumping at the chance to invest in local bond issues, realizing that such participation allows them to show their dedication to hometown causes.

Heartway Bancorp. in Wayland, Iowa, has agreed to buy Peoples State Bank in Winfield, Iowa.

Bank of Montreal has agreed to buy Greene Holcomb Fisher, a boutique advisory firm in Minneapolis.

First Bancorp in San Juan, Puerto Rico, has sold an insurance agency.

The $654 million-asset bank said in a press release Monday that it had reorganized under OP Bancorp after receiving approval from shareholders and regulators.

MFA Financial has carved out an impressive niche for itself by buying re-performing and nonperforming residential mortgages and securities.