Diebold and Wincor Nixdorf — which plan to merge under the name "Diebold Nixdorf" — were already in the midst of major projects to digitize bank branches and retail stores before the pressure from mobile devices led them to join forces to keep pace with innovation.

The proliferation of easy-to-use analytics tools has allowed community banks to do what used to take teams of quants to accomplish. Some are using it to get an edge in M&A, others are using it to improve efficiency.

On the sidelines for three years, the once-aggressive acquirer jumps back in the game with a deal for CommunityOne Bancorp in Charlotte. It's also looking to bulk up in Tennessee and Florida, though any opportunity would bring tough decisions on whether to cross the $10 billion-asset mark.

Centre 1 Bancorp in Beloit, Wis., has agreed to buy Walworth State Bank in Wisconsin.

Diebold Inc. agreed to buy German rival Wincor Nixdorf AG for about 1.8 billion euros ($1.9 billion) to create the biggest maker of cash machines and security systems with more than $5 billion in sales.

Coastal Banking in Beaufort, S.C., has agreed to buy First Avenue National Bank of Ocala in Florida.

Atlantic Coast Financial in Jacksonville, Fla., has agreed to sell a branch in Georgia to Queensborough National Bank & Trust in Louisville, Ga.

Fifth Third Bancorp in Cincinnati has invested Zipscene, a firm that specializes in consumer analytics for the restaurant industry.

Capital Bank Financial in Coral Gables, Fla., has agreed to buy CommunityOne Bancorp in Charlotte, N.C.

MB Financial in Chicago has agreed to buy American Chartered Bancorp in Chicago.

The $1.2 billion-asset company has redeemed the $10.9 million of preferred shares held by the U.S. Treasury Department, plus accrued dividends.

Two of central Maryland's oldest community banks have agreed to merge and reorganize under a new name.

The New York firm on Thursday sold 3 million voting shares in the $9.4 billion-asset United Community to Morgan Stanley, which acted as the sole underwriter on the offering.

First Resource Bank in Exton, Pa., has redeemed most of its Small Business Lending Fund preferred shares.

HMN Financial in Rochester, Minn., has agreed to buy a branch from Deerwood Bank in Deerwood, Minn.

County Bancorp in Manitowoc, Wis., has agreed to buy Fox River Valley Bancorp in Appleton, Wis., for about $29 million.

First Bancshares in Hattiesburg, Miss., has agreed to buy Mortgage Connection in Jackson, Miss.

California regulators have approved a request from private-equity firm Carpenter & Co. to raise capital for a new state-chartered bank.

Avidbank Holdings in Palo Alto, Calif., has raised $12 million through a private placement of debt.

More banks are looking to buy commercial loans for reasons ranging from a dearth of organic opportunities to a need to diversify their asset mix. That surge in demand is creating an imbalance that benefits banks that have been able to make more loans.