A breakdown of M&A announcements in the financial services industry for the week ended August 10.

The Spokane, Wash., bank could not rename its two retail operations in California "Sterling" because of legal matters, so executives turned to their French-English dictionary for a unique substitute: "Argent."

Determined to stay independent, Allegiance Bancshares is looking for more deals like its recent one with Independence Bank so it can get big enough to go public. Other Texas banks could be attracted by the chance to join a soon-to-be public company.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce is in talks to sell about half its Aerogold credit-card portfolio to Toronto-Dominion Bank, the lender that's taking over as the main card partner for Aimia's rewards program.

Bank of Wausau was shut down by Wisconsin regulators Friday.

Roma Financial (ROMA) in Robbinsville, N.J., swung to a loss in the second quarter thanks to a check-kiting scheme.

Deal activity was hottest in the Southeast and Midwest, Stifel and KBW moved up in the advisory rankings after combining forces and a BankThink point-counterpoint addresses the taboo subject of whether bank mergers are worth doing.

Prosperity Bancshares is finding that its recent deals — which allowed the Houston company to expand in highly coveted businesses such as private banking and cards — are producing a nice boost to fee income.

The $902 million-asset company said Friday that it plans to shut down First Financial Diversified, which provides escrow services to First Financial and other customers.

Consolidation is needed to help the economy because there are too many banks, argues the author, a longtime bank investor. Many parties benefit from deals, and any return for the seller is better than producing poor results or being seized by regulators.

Bryn Mawr Bank (BMTC) in Pennsylvania and MidCoast Community Bancorp in Wilmington, Del., have terminated plans to merge.

Debt buyer Encore Capital Group Inc. reported gross collections from the portfolio purchasing and recovery business for the second quarter ended June 30 totaled $278.4 million, a 16% increase over the $240.6 million in the year-ago period.

Triumph Bancshares in Germantown, Tenn., has agreed to buy two mortgage businesses from Merchants & Planters Bancshares in Bolivar, Tenn.