A Massachusetts mutual's failure to gain depositor approval for a conversion suggests a way for small towns to push back against the loss of their local banks, according to lawyer Kevin Handly.

Regulatory delays have forced ViewPoint Financial in Plano, Texas, and LegacyTexas Group in Plano to push back the closing date for their planned merger a second time.

Great Western Bancorp in Sioux Falls, S.D., has filed documents for an initial public offering.

A judge had ordered Joseph Stilwell to appear in court and respond to a subpoena from the Securities and Exchange Commission tied to a securities fraud investigation.

BNC Bancorp in High Point, N.C., has filed to sell up to $150 million in securities. The $3.7 billion-asset company said in a filing Tuesday that it could issue common and preferred stock, debt securities and other securities from time to time.

Mid Penn Bancorp in Millersburg, Pa., has agreed to buy Phoenix Bancorp in Minersville, Pa.

First Business Financial Services in Madison, Wis., is relying on a subordinated debt sale to foot the cash portion of its pending acquisition.

Sound Community Bank in Seattle has acquired three branches on the Olympic Peninsula from Columbia Bank in Tacoma, Wash.

Capital Bancorp in Rockville, Md., has raised $5 million in senior debt financing. The $547 million-asset company obtained the financing only through local investors and without institutional investors, it said in a Tuesday press release.

Federal regulators have delayed or derailed several bank mergers and acquisitions in recent months. Here are some notable examples.

Many banks are aggressively closing branches to cut costs. Those banks must be mindful about branches in moderate- and low-income neighborhoods or risk downgrades after their next Community Reinvestment Act examination.

Is CIT Group's acquisition of OneWest Bank a harbinger of sizable deals? M&A adviser Aaron Packles thinks so.

The Midwest had the highest number of whole bank and branch deals of any region in the country so far this year, and Stifel worked on more of those deals than any other M&A adviser, according to our semiannual ranking.

A breakdown of M&A announcements in the financial services industry for the week ended Aug. 23.

Summit Financial in Moorefield, W.Va., plans to raise roughly $12.8 million through a private placement and a subsequent rights offering.

Espirito Santo Bank in Miami has hired the investment banking firm FIG Partners to market it to prospective buyers.

BBVA Compass will likely face restrictions on M&A and branching after issues turned up in its recent CRA exam. Though a CRA rating downgrade is bad, some believe the foreign-owned bank is better off than banks that have had compliance issues arise after submitting a merger application.

American National Bankshares in Danville, Va., has agreed to buy MainStreet BankShares in Martinsville, Va.

Stonegate Bank in Pompano Beach, Fla., has agreed to buy Community Bank of Broward in Dania Beach, Fla.

Who says you can't have it all? Banks like Eagle Bancorp and Puget Sound Bank are adding loans at a fast clip, but that hasn't stopped them from looking for deals. Still, such banks must make sure their deals do not wreck the growth engine they already have.