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.

Rick Keller, chairman at First Foundation, Inc. in Irvine, Calif., discusses the company's recent initial public offering.

TotalBank in Miami has terminated 58 employees in operating and commercial job functions, after it upgraded its technology.

LegacyTexas Financial Group in Plano will issue $75 million in subordinated debt for potential acquisitions and other uses.

First South Bancorp in Washington, N.C., will close three branches as part of a larger branch-restructuring plan.

The private equity firm founded by Eugene Ludwig has sold about 6% of its stake in Seacoast Banking Corp. of Florida for $7.3 million.

Entegra Financial in Franklin, N.C., has adopted a plan to preserve the value of about $12.2 million deferred tax assets.

Private-equity investors in Opus Bank in Irvine, Calif., are cashing in some of their chips.

Farmers Capital Bank in Frankfort, Ky., has hired a business lawyer as chief operating officer.

Springleaf Holdings has changed its name to OneMain Holdings after buying its top competitor from Citigroup for $4.49 billion.

Huntington Bancshares in Columbus, Ohio, has agreed to sell its fund-servicing business, Huntington Asset Services, to Ultimus Fund Solutions, a provider of back-office and other services for small and midsize advisers.

KeyCorp and New York Community Bancorp are among a number of buyers pledging to aggressively cut costs at acquired banks. There are plenty of ways to go about it, but acquirers risk cutting too deeply in the effort to appease wary investors.

Coastal Banking in Beaufort, S.C., has redeemed stock that it originally issued as part of the Troubled Asset Relief Program, after it obtained a $10 million loan.

BNC Bancorp in High Point, N.C., has agreed to buy a local rival, High Point Bank Corp., for $141.3 million.

Parkway Bancorp in Harwood Heights, Ill., no longer plans to buy Park Bancorp in Chicago.

Heartland BancCorp in Gahanna, Ohio, has raised $5.4 million in a private placement.

BankUnited expects to receive about $393 million in proceeds from the offering. It plans to use the proceeds for general corporate purposes, including investments in and advances to its bank subsidiary.

Bank Leumi's conservatism helped it stay profitable during the financial crisis. The bank, a unit of Leumi Group in Israel, is ready to get more aggressive in areas such as technology lending.

Ally Financial in Detroit plans to redeem about $1.3 billion of preferred stock, opening the door to a possible stock buyback next year.

Royal Banks of Missouri in University City has agreed to buy Frontenac Bank in Earth City, Mo.