Taylor Capital Group (TAYC) in Chicago plans to enter the mortgage-servicing business through the purchase of servicing rights and facilities from Liberty Savings Bank of Wilmington, Ohio.

Umpqua Holdings in Portland, Ore., has agreed to buy Financial Pacific Holding in Federal Way, Wash.

The $76 million-asset lender raised the sum from local investors. It began the effort in October and finished at the end of May, its financial advisor, Community Capital Advisors, announced on Monday.

The Houston company said Monday it has purchased the assets of Merrimak ATM Group of Rohnert Park, Calif. Financial terms were not disclosed.

It's been a buoyant year for stocks but not for bank deals. Regulatory uncertainty and a failure of buyers and sellers to come to terms on price continue to stymie activity. American Banker staffers discuss whether the market is getting closer to taking off and why some big investors have been selling.

Regulation should be strong enough to protect investors yet business-minded enough to promote active derivatives, mortgage and other markets, says Judd Gregg, a former New Hampshire lawmaker and new chief executive of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association.

Delinquencies on commercial mortgages that back securities inched up in May as resolutions fell.

A breakdown of M&A announcements in the financial services industry for the week ended June 1.

Farmers National Banc in Canfield, Ohio is buying an employee-benefits consultant.

AmericanWest Bank in Spokane, Wash., has agreed to buy eight southern California branches from First PacTrust Bancorp in Irvine, Calif.

The Michigan company is set to raise up to $100 million if the right acquisition is available. Analysts say in an erratic M&A market, it is better to be ready to raise capital than to raise it and wait.

A Louisiana Senate Committee has advanced a bill to centralize and strengthen collection efforts for the state government.

Oxford Bank in Michigan has terminated its planned sale to Level One Bancorp due to regulatory delays and an improvement in Oxford's financial condition.

Sallie Mae is looking to unlock the value of its lending operation and an asset-hungry bank could be the one holding the key.

BNC Bancorp in High Point, N.C., has agreed to buy Randolph Bank & Trust in Asheboro, N.C.

First it was Jamie Dimon's cufflinks. Now JPMorgan Chase is cementing its reputation as a fashion-forward bank, with a Marie Claire article about Chief Financial Officer Marianne Lake.

The bank wants to double in size by pursuing acquisitions and hiring bankers away from competitors.

The T. Rowe Price Group has agreed to sell its banking unit to the investor Jacob Safra.

SLM Corp. believes its bank unit would be more valuable as its own company, but it could also be attractive to other banks eager to add earning assets.

Debt buyer Encore Capital Group announced it is acquiring a controlling stake in Cabot Credit Management, an estimated $192 million deal coming just two weeks after Cabot was sold to J.C. Flowers.