FirstMerit (FMER) of Akron, Ohio, seeks to raise as much as $350 million in connection with its deal for Citizens Republic Bancorp (CRBC).

First Niagara Financial Group (FNFG) in Buffalo, N.Y., has filled its openings for general counsel and human resources manager from within.

Charles R. Crowley and Michael C. Voinovich will open an investment banking office in Cleveland for Boenning & Scattergood.

Grandpoint Capital's plan to acquire its ninth bank in less than three years has been terminated, or possibly just iced for now.

Zions Bancorp., in Salt Lake City, took an $84 million charge related to trust-preferred collateralized debt obligations last quarter, but experts say it will pay off. Better loan totals help, too.

The New Jersey company is well capitalized but was challenged making bigger loans to its commercial clients, an issue that could lead other small banks to seek buyers.

Lake Shore Bancorp (LSBK) in Dunkirk, N.Y., is ready to make a change at the top as two directors approach retirement age.

National Bank Holdings (NBHC) reported a higher quarterly profit thanks to a wider net interest margin and lower tax and loan-loss provisions.

Phillips & Cohen Associates International Ltd. the global arm of a deceased recovery specialist, on Tuesday announced its plan to add a location in Melbourne, Australia.

Lakeland Bancorp in Oak Ridge has agreed to buy Somerset Hills Bancorp in Bernardsville, N.J.

As loan-loss reserves normalize, the earnings benefit from lower provision expenses will abate and earnings will be squeezed. M&A should emerge as an attractive strategy to maintain earnings and generate growth.

JPMorgan Chase (JPM) is standing up for megabanks against growing criticism and calls for their breakup.

Zions Bancorp. (ZION) posted lower fourth-quarter earnings after taking a big charge on its holdings of collateralized debt obligations.

Other acquisitive banks have dropped regional monikers, but Bank of the Ozarks in Little Rock, Ark., is focusing on service instead of rebranding, its CEO says.

Persistent challenges such as margin compression and rising expenses will eventually force more banks to sell.

A breakdown of M&A announcements in the financial services industry for the week ended January 26.

Investar would acquire a bank with two branches in southeastern Louisiana.

Expenses weighed on UnionBanCal in San Francisco in the fourth quarter. Earnings at the $97 billion-asset company, which is wholly owned by Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, fell 4.7% from a year earlier, to $123 million.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. is seeking $29.9 million in damages in a lawsuit against 11 former officers and directors of failed First National Bank of Georgia.

JPMorgan Chase (JPM) is pushing back against a shareholder proposal to let investors vote on whether the bank should consider taking itself apart.