Banks have rushed to the exits when it comes to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac debt securities. Federal liquidity rules seem to be prompting big banks to do so, but why small banks are unloading the bonds, too, is more of a puzzler.

In addition to credit risk from leveraged loans and other types of assets, an added worry for participations is how they would be treated in a failure of the originating bank.

Fifth Third in Cincinnati has closed a branch in downtown Columbus as part of an ongoing streamlining effort.

Nicolet Bankshares in Green Bay, Wis., disclosed in a regulatory filing Thursday that Robert Cera, who had shared the chairman, president and chief executive roles with Bob Atwell, was no longer at the company.

Kelly King promised "additional announcements later this year" tied to long-term succession planning, and it was initially unclear if he was referring to his own retirement plans. BB&T later said that King would be CEO for the "foreseeable future."

A number of banks have faced pressure from shareholders to ditch plurality voting, where directors can keep their seats even if they fail to receive majority support from investors.

The Federal Housing Administration's loan sales are drawing more attention after a recent critical report said it was resulting in vulnerable borrowers losing their homes.

CIT Group has embraced a system that mimics a single source of data to help it comply with increased regulatory scrutiny. It could also help the company become more efficient.

TCF Financial in Minnesota has launched a set of products targeting low-income customers. The company, which has closed a fifth of its branches in recent years, hopes underbanked clients will boost traffic at its remaining locations.

Yadkin Financial, a North Carolina community bank, is exploring a sale and working with Sandler O'Neill & Partners to solicit offers, according to people familiar with the matter.

All five directors at Seacoast Banking Corp. of Florida in Stuart were re-elected despite a protest vote from the company's biggest investor.

Citigroup will pay $425 million to resolve U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission claims that the bank attempted to manipulate global benchmarks for interest rate products multiple times from 2007 to 2012.

Mackinac Financial in Manistique, Mich., has agreed to buy Niagara Bancorp. in Niagara, Wis.

CenterState in Florida and Union Savings in Connecticut are adding specialists to their retail locations at a time when many other banks are cutting back or have been relying heavily on universal bankers.

RCB Bank in Claremore, Okla., has agreed to buy CornerBank in Winfield, Kan.

The Bancorp in Wilmington, Del., has selected a former Citigroup executive as its next chief executive.

QCR Holdings in Moline, Ill., has agreed to buy Community State Bank in Ankeny, Iowa.

A proxy advisory firm has sided with Financial Institutions in Warsaw, N.Y., in its battle with an activist investor.

LaPorte Bancorp was poring over offers from potential buyers when Raymond James, the company's investment bank, notified LaPorte's board that it was also advising a potential acquirer on a separate deal. LaPorte requested more information before ruling out a potential conflict of interest.

Huntington Bancshares in Columbus, Ohio, is significantly raising the ante in philanthropic and community development investments connected to its planned acquisition of FirstMerit.