The end of the year is a busy time for closing bank acquisitions — at least buyers are hoping that is the case. With the average deal taking about 120 days to complete, there are plenty of banks anxiously awaiting a call from regulators.

Border Bancshares in Greenbush, Minn., has agreed to buy full ownership of First Advantage Bank in Coon Rapids, Minn.

CertusHoldings in Greenville, S.C., is getting very little money for selling its broker-dealer and wealth-management units.

Security National Bank in Sioux City, Iowa, said Thursday that it has agreed to purchase First Trust & Savings Bank in Moville, Iowa.

American Savings Bank in Honolulu announced Wednesday that its parent company, Hawaiian Electric Industries, is planning to spin off the bank.

In at least three recent instances, trust-preferred investors have filed lawsuits against lenders who either bought or sold banks in transactions designed to bypass such debtholders.

James Ladio, a former chief executive of MidCoast Community Bank in Wilmington, Del., was sentenced to two years in prison for his role in a fraudulent loan scheme.

Beneficial Mutual Bancorp has completed the stock-sale portion of its conversion to a wholly stock-owned company, raising between $468 million and $550 million.

Hackers with Wall Street expertise have stolen merger-and-acquisition information from more than 80 companies for more than a year, according to security consultants who shared their findings with law enforcement.

The investment banking firm Sterne Agee & Leach recently studied 16 bank mergers that involve sellers with market capitalizations of $100 million to $5 billion. The sellers share a number of characteristics in common. Here are seven important ones.

Stilwell Group has terminated a standstill agreement reached with Malvern Bancorp in Paoli, Pa., saying it was no longer necessary after meeting with Malvern's new CEO, Anthony Weagley.

A recent report from Sterne Agee included a list of banks with similar traits to sellers in pending deals. Such traits, including aging CEOs and substandard returns, could portend future sellers.

BNC Bancorp in High Point, N.C., and CU Bancorp in Encino, Calif., have completed two previously announced acquisitions.

The Freedom Bank of Virginia has extended the deadline for its $4 million stock offering in response to investors' requests for more time.

Summit Community Bank in Moorefield, W.Va., said Wednesday that it has shed an enforcement action and completed the first portion of its private placement with Castle Creek Capital Partners.

The growing influence of two directors known for seeking big changes at other banks has raised questions about whether Naugatuck Valley Financial in Connecticut may be put up for sale.

First Foundation Bank in Irvine, Calif., has agreed to buy Pacific Rim Bank in Honolulu.

With new bank chartering at a standstill, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has issued new guidance on de novo capital requirements and other issues in part to "demystify the application process."

MidWestOne Financial Group in Iowa City has agreed to buy Central Bancshares in Golden Valley, Minn.

MUFG Union Bank will close 20 branches of the former Frontier Bank in Washington state.