Pacific Commerce Bank in Los Angeles has agreed to buy Vibra Bank in Chula Vista, Calif.

Expect more regional banks to pursue deals that put them over the $50 billion-asset threshold in an effort to reap the benefits of implicit government subsidies.

Valley National Bancorp in Wayne, N.J., reported higher earnings driven by loan growth, lower costs and improvements in credit quality.

S&T Bancorp in Indiana, Pa., has agreed to buy Integrity Bancshares in Camp Hill, Pa.

WesBanco in Wheeling, W.Va., has agreed to buy ESB Financial in Ellwood City, Pa.

Hanmi Bank in Los Angeles has hired executives to expand its customer base in Texas and Illinois.

At least 10 large banks, including Bank of America, Citigroup and Wells Fargo, have raised more than $18 billion in programmatic capital since early last week. Tier 1 shortfalls, the end of earnings season and heightened market demand for bank issuances are among the reasons for the transactions.

Cullen/Frost Bankers in San Antonio reported increased quarterly earnings that reflected a significant reduction in credit costs.

BB&T has opened an office of its capital markets unit in New York to service corporate and institutional customers in the Northeast.

Prosperity Bancshares in Houston surpassed Wall Street estimates for the third quarter, fueled by two recent acquisitions.

Sterling Bancorp in Montebello, N.Y., realized a big efficiency gain after a major acquisition.

The Rhode Island company had barely opened the doors of its Fairfield County mortgage office when management started getting pushed about making a bigger splash. For now, CEO Joseph MarcAurele seems content to keep one toe in the water.

A breakdown of M&A announcements in the financial services industry for the week ended Oct. 25.

The $44 billion-asset specialty lender viewed its pending purchase of OneWest Bank as its way to get significantly over the $50 billion threshold for systemically important financial institutions. But CIT CEO John Thain is all for a proposal that would raise the SIFI bar higher.

FirstMerit in Akron, Ohio, reported higher quarterly profit that met Wall Street expectations despite margin pressure.

South State Corp. in Columbia, S.C., struggled to increase earnings but held expenses in check after a major acquisition.

Cheviot Financial in Cincinnati has agreed to add a director recommended by activist investor Seidman Group.

First Guaranty Bancshares in Hammond, La., has filed for a $75 million initial public offering.

Iberiabank is excited to add equipment finance and an SBA lending platform when it buys Old Florida Bancshares. The deal also gives the Louisiana company its first branches in Orlando.

Profits rose at Bridge Bancorp in Bridgehampton, N.Y., on strong loan growth. The $2.2 billion-asset reported net income of $4.9 million in the third quarter, up 56% from a year earlier.