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This special report includes stories looking back at the year in dealmaking to date — by one measure it's on track to be the best year in mergers and acquisitions since the financial crisis — and at the factors that may influence buying and selling in the banking industry in the future.

New charters were once an integral piece of the bank M&A food chain, allowing bankers to start anew after selling their institutions. Do novo banking has all but dried up, and the dearth of startups has made executives hesitant to sell their banks.

Paula Johannsen was the most-active financial adviser at midyear with six mergers under her belt. In a wide-ranging interview, she discusses Florida M&A, compliance delays and the reasoning behind mergers of equals.

Shares in Green Bancorp jumped nearly 14% following the Houston company’s initial public offering.

Executives at Allegiance Bancshares have long been vocal about their desire to take the Houston company public. The company recently agreed to buy Farmers & Merchants Bancshares, giving it one more opportunity to boost its profile before taking the plunge.

Mutual of Omaha Bank has agreed to sell five branches to CIC Bancshares in Denver.

Banner Corp. in Walla Walla, Wash., has agreed to buy Siuslaw Financial Group in Florence, Ore.

Peoples Bancorp in Marietta, Ohio, has raised $40 million through a private placement.

Peyton Patterson has resigned from Bankwell Financial in New Canaan, Conn., less than two months after she was ordered to pay $350,000 in Amex bills and had to resolve other personal financial matters. She had led the company since 2012.

Heritage Bank in Jonesboro, Ga., became one of the first banks to retire trust-preferred securities held by the FDIC after a complex, year-long negotiation. The transaction could be a model for dozens of other lenders trying to avoid default and possible bankruptcy.

In its debut deal, Observer Capital, a private equity firm, has acquired SourceMedia, the publisher of American Banker, from another PE firm, Investcorp, for an undisclosed price.

Carolina Financial in Charleston, S.C., has agreed to acquire 13 branches in the Carolinas and additional assets from First Community Bancshares in Bluefield, Va.

In its debut deal, private equity firm Observer Capital has acquired SourceMedia Inc., the publisher of Collections & Credit Risk, PaymentsSource, American Banker, the Bond Buyer, Financial Planning and Accounting Today, from PE firm Investcorp, for undisclosed terms.

Northrim BanCorp in Anchorage, Alaska, has agreed to buy Residential Mortgage Holding Co.