The deal to buy TradeKing would allow the online-only bank to offer wealth-building products to its roughly 1.1 million depositors. The additional low-cost deposits could also help fund loan growth as it looks to expand beyond auto lending and into mortgages and credit cards.

In a more competitive-than-ever industry, sales activity is an important part of bankers' jobs, but it is not the only part.

Financial Institutions in Warsaw, N.Y., is facing a proxy battle from an activist investor intent on taking two board seats.

Wealth management revenue has been a bright spot on bank earnings for the last few years, but regulatory changes to the way advisers can charge for their services will likely dramatically change the business.

JPMorgan Chase, drawing from its experience in the Motor City, has created a $125 million program designed to help community development financial institutions make bigger investments in impoverished neighborhoods.

USAmeriBancorp in Clearwater, Fla., has completed a private placement to institutional investors of $45 million in subordinated notes.

In an interview, FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg said the agency will work with banking groups, state commissioners and others to help foster the growth of new banking charters.

Ally Financial announced Tuesday that it had agreed to buy the online brokerage firm TradeKing Group for approximately $275 million. TradeKing, based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has roughly $4.5 billion in client assets.

State Bank Financial in Atlanta has agreed to buy NBG Bancorp in Athens, Ga.

Union Bankshares in Richmond, Va., has agreed to buy Old Dominion Capital Management in Charlottesville, Va.

DNB Financial in Downington, Pa., has agreed to buy East River Bank of Philadelphia.

The $1.3 billion-asset Westfield said in a press release Monday that it will pay $110 million, or $20.42 a share, in stock for the $800 million-asset Chicopee.

United Community Banks in Blairsville, Ga., has agreed to buy Tidelands Bancshares in Mt. Pleasant, S.C., for $2.2 million in cash, or 52 cents a share.

"In Northwest Arkansas there are a lot of banks with similar names," Chairman Jon Harrell said in a news release about the rebranding, which includes a new logo and signage. "We wanted a name that would stand out and at the same time it was important to us to not lose sight of our roots."

Several banks have recently purchased highly visible properties in strategically important markets, investing in real estate at a time when the industry is closing branches at a record pace. Low rates may be a factor, but many bankers are also trying to send a message to clients and prospects.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial's main lending unit is eyeing further acquisitions in the U.S. and Asia as part of its longstanding aspirations to become one of the world's leading commercial banks, the unit's new president said.

First Financial in Terre Haute, Ind., has sold its insurance brokerage unit to USI Insurance Services in Valhalla, N.Y.

BofI Holding in San Diego has bought an equipment finance business from PacWest Bancorp in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Talmer Bancorp in Michigan agreed in January to sell itself for 2.3% less than its stock price at the time. In a recent filing, Talmer gave its rationale for the contentious take-under, emphasizing the deal's long-term benefits.

What makes a true leader is particularly relevant to the banking industry, in which the leading institutions and key individuals are not always defined by asset size.