Anchor Bancorp in Lacey, Wash., has named an accountant to its board, to settle a dispute with an activist investor.

Strong financials were an important consideration behind the $1 billion merger, but it often takes more than good numbers to compel Korean-American banks to merge. Hanmi Financial found that out the hard way after its unsolicited bid for BBCN largely fell on deaf ears.

Fear is one causing many small banks to sell, says FIG Partners analyst Chris Marinac. Deals will likely be slow in the early going next year but pick up as the spring begins.

The $30.2 million-asset Citizens, in Hartford, Ky., agreed to pay a 1.77% premium for the branch's average daily balance of assumed deposits for the ten days prior to the closing date.

Carolina Financial in Charleston, S.C., plans to raise $30 million in a public offering of its common stock.

Patriot National once suffered seven straight years of losses. Again profitable, the company is looking to use capital to buy back leased branches, improve technology and make the first acquisition in its 21-year history.

Several CEOs hitting the magic age of 63 have chosen to sell their institutions, suggesting a dearth of younger executives waiting in the wings.

Bank of the Ozarks in Little Rock, Ark., which has made 15 bank deals since 2010, has raised $110 million in an offering of its common stock.

Univest Corp. of Pennsylvania in Souderton has agreed to buy Fox Chase Bancorp in Hatboro, Pa., for $244.3 million.

BOK Financial in Tulsa, Okla., has agreed to buy MBT Bancshares in Kansas City, Mo., for $102 million.

Eagle Bancorp in Bethesda, Md., has added equipment leasing to its lineup of commercial banking products.

Enterprise Financial Services in Clayton, Mo., has reached an agreement to end loss-share agreements tied to the four failed banks it acquired during the financial crisis.

Why a small bank like First Mid-Illinois ignored the conventional wisdom — 'Commercial banks buy property/casualty firms.' 'Private-equity will outbid you.' 'Leave the innovation to the big guys.' — and bought a retail health-insurance agency.

Deals by M&T, KeyCorp and BB&T opened the door to big-bank M&A, even if investors balked at the prices. There are a few other regionals that look poised to make a big splash, says Chris Marinac of FIG Partners.

An activist investor has called on the lead director of Banc of California in Irvine to disclose details about Chairman and Chief Executive Steven Sugarman's involvement in an investment fund that violated securities laws.

Scituate Federal Savings Bank in Scituate, Mass., and S-Bank in Weymouth, Mass., have merged and changed the name of the surviving institution.

Some of BBCN's directors actually favored a deal with Hanmi to cement its position as the nation's biggest Korean-American bank. That disclosure could spur Hanmi to make a direct appeal to BBCN's shareholders in coming months.

A breakdown of M&A announcements in the financial services industry for the week ended December 5.

Peoples Financial Services in Scranton, Pa., has bought a retirement planning operation.

Codorus Valley Bancorp in York, Pa., plans to sell $30 million of stock to fund its exit from the Small Business Lending Fund program.