Heritage Financial in Olympia, Wash., plans to merge its two banks.

First Niagara Financial Group in Buffalo, N.Y., has hired a JPMorgan Chase executive to lead its new business unit for New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Executives at these banks will be braced for interrogation by investors, analysts and community activists this spring, when the seasons for annual meetings and conference calls on first-quarter results collide.

The deal is Investors' fourth since late 2011 and would bolster a growing presence in southern New Jersey.

Provident New York says the addition of Sterling Bancorp will super-size returns. Analysts are sold on the combo but question whether the profitability projections for it are realistic.

A former chief executive of First Community Bank has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for running a mortgage-fraud scheme that cost the Hammond, La., bank millions.

Thomas Brouster believes the capital could make an acquirer out of a company that he once pegged as seller.

Bond Street Holdings has offered jobs and merger-related payouts to two Atlantic Coast Financial (ACFC) executives — but not the president and chief executive — once the Florida companies complete their deal.

Central Bancshares in Muscatine, Iowa, plans to consolidate three of its bank subsidiaries under one charter.

PL Capital has taken a $7 million stake in MutualFirst Financial (MFSF) in Muncie, Ind.

Provident New York scouted other potential targets in the New York City region besides Sterling, but too many of them still think they can survive as independents, CEO Jack Kopnisky says.

Municipal Employees Credit Union in Baltimore has agreed to buy Advance Bank.

Capitol Bancorp's (CBCRQ) deal to sell a struggling New Mexico subsidiary has fallen through.

Many regional banks are too small to face the most onerous capital requirements yet big enough to grapple with the growing mountain of regulations. That, and some deft positioning, has left the group more profitable than its larger and smaller brethren alike. American Banker editors discuss the success of the regionals and the challenges they face.

HopFed Bancorp in Hopkinsville, Ky., has drawn the ire of activist investor Joseph Stilwell over its recent agreement to buy another bank.

The $3.8 billion-asset Provident said Thursday it would pay $344 million in stock for Sterling, or about 1.3 shares of Provident stock for each Sterling share.

Atlantic Coast Financial in Jacksonville expected disgruntled shareholder Jay Sidhu to blast its deal to sell itself to Bond Street Holdings — and he came through.

Shareholders will vote on a proposal to rename it CommunityOne Bancorp at their annual meeting on June 20, FNB United said Wednesday. Its board has already approved the change.

New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares (NHTB) in Newport has agreed to buy Central Financial Corp. (CEVT) in Randolph, Vt.

Shares of Independent Bank Group (IBTX) in McKinney, Texas, rose nearly 13% during their first day of trading.