HSBC executives have suggested for months that big changes were coming to its U.S. unit, but the overhaul was less drastic than some had called for. The parent company's CEO defended the decision as necessary to preserve key funding sources and client relationships.

The company, once in the crosshairs of a community group for how it complied with the Community Reinvestment Act, is aiming to raise $200 million with other banks for a fund that will work with local leaders to identify the best way to invest in low-income and underserved neighborhoods.

Piper Jaffray has hired several more executives from Sterne Agee Group, as it expands its financial institutions group.

James Sills, who runs a 107-year-old bank in North Carolina, believes the key to the survival of minority-owned institutions is their ability to adapt and reach more customers. M&F Bancorp, for instance, is changing the name of its bank and recently added its first nonblack director.

Egypt's Commercial International Bank agreed to acquire Citibank Egypt's retail unit as the U.S. bank withdraws from less profitable emerging-market businesses.

General Electric agreed to sell its U.S. private-equity lending business and a $3 billion bank loan portfolio to Canada Pension Plan Investment Board for about $12 billion.

Choice Financial Holdings in Fargo, N.D., has agreed to purchase Northland Financial in Steele, N.D.

A breakdown of M&A announcements in the financial services industry for the week ended June 6.

AMG National in Denver has bought a minority stake in an applications and software developer.

Many community banks are trying to determine the right balance of in-house staff and outsourced assistance in the area of risk management. Cost cutting and regulatory oversight loom large over such decisions.

Fulton Financial in Lancaster, Pa., will issue $150 million in subordinated debt to fund the redemption of a separate portfolio of debt securities.

Stifel Financial, the Missouri-based investment bank known for snapping up regional rivals and Wall Street castoffs, agreed to buy Barclays Plc's U.S. wealth- management business.

Borrowing from the playbook of other banks that faced similar challenges, Pittsburgh-based PNC hopes its new sponsorship deal with Chicago's beloved Bears football team will help it catch up in a major market where it ranks No. 8.

Steep legal fees used to make it difficult for smaller banks to invest in renewable energy tax credits. A new fund is looking to lower the typical legal fees that have made such investments cost-prohibitive for community banks.

Regions Financial in Birmingham, Ala., has agreed to pay $90 million to settle a 2009 shareholder lawsuit over its acquisition of AmSouth Bancorp.

WestStar Bank in El Paso, Texas, is planning to merge with First National Bank in El Paso.

Two private-equity investors have priced their offering of shares in Central Pacific Financial in Honolulu.

Bankers scratching their heads about how to attract millennials can take some comfort knowing that generations ago their predecessors also struggled to connect with America's youth. Crocker National Bank found a way, though.

PBB Bancorp in Los Angeles and First Mountain Bank in Big Bear Lake, Calif., are discussing a merger.

The regulatory burden for originators has not only been the main driver of acquisition activity in mortgages but also influences deal structures. Acquirers are looking to craft transactions so they don't get burned by targets' compliance lapses.