Rockville Financial (RCKB) in Connecticut and United Financial Bancorp (UBNK) in West Springfield, Mass., will close four overlapping branches after their planned merger closes next year.

Officials in Tucson, Ariz. voted to erase nearly $10 million from the city's books but that doesn't mean delinquent individuals are off the hook.

BancorpSouth (BXS) in Tupelo, Miss., is strengthening its insurance business in Texas.

First Niagara Financial (FNFG) in Buffalo, N.Y., didn't have to look far to find its next president and chief executive, even though the search process lasted nine months.

Flagstar Bancorp (FBC) has agreed to sell the majority of its mortgage-servicing rights but will retain the subservicing rights, the Troy, Mich., company said Wednesday.

Investors Bancorp (ISBC), in Short Hills, N.J., filed registration papers to dissolve its mutual holding company and convert to a fully stock-owned company.

MidCoast Community Bank's founder and former chief executive pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges of bank fraud and money laundering.

BNC Bancorp's deals to spend $48 million on two lenders with sizable levels of nonperforming assets show that strugglers can command stronger prices in markets where aggressive banks are under pressure to buy.

First Financial Bancorp (FFBC) in Cincinnati has agreed buy First Bexley Bank, in a deal that would bring First Financial into the Columbus market.

Timberland Bancorp (TSBK) in Hoquiam, Wash., will buy back its remaining Troubled Asset Relief Program shares for about $12.1 million.

BNC Bancorp (BNCN) in High Point, N.C., announced two deals Wednesday that would significantly boost its presence in its home state.

The Winston-Salem, N.C., company said Wednesday that it agreed to buy 21 Citibank branches in Texas, along with $1.2 billion in deposits and $134 in loans.

The final Volcker Rule is much friendlier to syndicated lenders and collateralized loan obligations than earlier versions. However, some banks will still have to divest some CLO holdings, and leveraged lenders face other regulatory challenges.

Keith Darcy, longtime head of the Ethics & Compliance Officer Association and former director of E-Trade Bank and New York National Bank, has joined Deloitte's compliance group as a senior advisor.

A breakdown of M&A announcements in the financial services industry for the week ended Dec. 14.

Citigroup Inc. (C), the third-biggest U.S. bank by assets, sold its Metalmark Capital private-equity unit to comply with the Volcker Rule.

Union First Market Bancshares (UBSH) in Richmond, Va., plans to remake its board and expand its executive team after acquiring StellarOne (STEL) in Charlottesville, Va.

M&T Bank's (MTB) long-delayed purchase of Hudson City Bancorp (HCBK) could be held up until the end of 2014.

JPMorgan Chase is seeking to sell a global investment unit in a push to simplify operations by paring non-essential holdings, a person familiar with the matter said.

Early in the year Hanmi Financial in Los Angeles was poised to put itself up for sale. But its deal to buy a Texas bank with operations in six states could rearm Hanmi in its fight with BBCN Bancorp and Wilshire Bancorp to be the top Korean-American bank.