VantageSouth Bancshares (VSB) in Raleigh, N.C., and Yadkin Financial (YDKN) in Elkin, N.C., are reportedly discussing a merger.

Union First Market Bancshares (UBSH) in Richmond, Va., has expanded its chief executive's role.

Experian has announced plans to buy U.S. healthcare data firm Passport Health Communications for $850 million, continuing a push to expand and invest in new products.

To prove the value of the merger of Provident New York Bancorp and Sterling Bancorp, executives have to increase revenues at a much faster pace than expenses over the long haul, CEO Jack Kopnisky says.

Independence Bank in Newport Beach, Calif., has agreed to buy Premier Service Bank (PSBK) in Riverside.

Home Bancorp (HBCP) in Lafayette, La., has agreed to pay $34.5 million in cash for Britton & Koontz Capital (BKBK) in Natchez, Miss.

Activist investors continue to stir up community banking and M&A. ISS advised Hampden Bancorp shareholders to support an investor group that wants to push the thrift to sell itself, but Egan-Jones says the new CEO deserves more time.

The corporate and investment banking arm of SunTrust Banks (STI) is expanding into three regions with offices in Dallas, San Francisco and Chicago.

A breakdown of M&A announcements in the financial services industry for the week ended Nov. 2.

The Treasury Department plans to auction seven more lenders' Troubled Asset Relief Program shares, with a total face value of about $90 million.

Taylor Capital Group (TAYC) in Chicago is buying back its outstanding Troubled Asset Relief Program shares as it waits to close its sale to MB Financial (MBFI).

Fidelity Creditor Service Inc., a Glendale, Calif.-based collection agency, has acquired another San Fernando Valley collection firm, its eighth acquisition in eight years.

Half of banking and other business leaders expect a stronger economy, and 44% expect a stronger M&A market, in the next 12 months, according to a new survey. Regulation remains a concern, but dealmakers are largely ignoring the lingering problems in Washington, observers say.

Royal Bank of Scotland has accelerated its plans to sell its U.S. subsidiary. The company will conduct a partial initial public offering of its Citizens Financial Group unit in the second half of 2014, and plans to fully divest itself through offerings in 2015 and 2016.

Camco Financial (CAFI) said its Advantage Bank has been released from a 2012 enforcement action less than a month after agreeing to sell itself to Huntington Bancshares (HBAN) in Columbus, Ohio.

Zions Bancorp (ZION) in Salt Lake City has raised $162 million in an auction of subordinated debt.

NewBridge Bancorp (NBBC) in Greensboro, N.C., has agreed to buy CapStone Bank (CPSE) in Raleigh, N.C.

The Pennsylvania company is raising $150 million. Two-thirds of it will go toward redeeming trust-preferred securities, but the remaining funds could be used to do bigger deals.

The Capital Asset Pricing Model’s value is debatable in normal times. If misapplied in today’s ultralow interest rate environment, it can severely overvalue banks and excuse poor operating performance.

CommunityOne Bancorp (COB) in Asheboro, N.C., reported its first quarterly profit since 2008.