Regional banks

The agency has a relatively new program designed to quickly get funds into disaster-stricken areas. The problem is that many bankers don't know it exists.

Several banks and industry groups are pledging money to help bankers and their clients recover from the hurricane and its aftermath.

In the coming year, bankers in Puerto Rico will need to keep an eye on how steep cuts in government spending will affect the island’s consumers, says José Rafael Fernández, CEO of OFG Bancorp.

Their immediate effort is to ensure colleagues and clients are safe and that banking services are available to hurricane victims. The next big issue is preparing for the financial hit banks and customers will take from wind and water damage.

An ex-banker running for governor has proposed the idea. It's a political perennial, but industry officials are nonetheless raising concerns.

The Boston company — a division of the Spanish banking giant Banco Santander — announced that the Federal Reserve has terminated a 2014 written agreement barring it from declaring dividends without central bank approval.

Bank Mutual was still in talks to buy a bank roughly its own size when it began exploring a sale. The move allowed Bank Mutual to quickly find a buyer after its planned acquisition fell through.

The agency's statement comes as Tropical Storm Harvey gets closer to the Texas shore.

Bank of the Ozarks, Home BancShares and Simmons First have used acquisitions and a business-friendly environment in their home state to become regional powers.

People’s United recently won the deposit business of the states of Massachusetts and Vermont, punctuating a multiyear plan to expand in government banking. But it’s a hard niche to succeed in, and, as other banks can attest, it can invite controversy.

The regional bank will record a pretax gain of about $1 billion as it continues to shed its stake in the payment processor Vantiv.

Many banks are adopting an “it takes money to make money” approach, paying more interest on deposits in exchange for loan growth, fee income and customer retention.

The key to an unsolicited bid is to avoid looking like a bully. That requires clear communication with a target's investors, employees and clients — along with any other banks you might eventually want to buy.

Rising taxes, declining population and the political landscape in Illinois have led several bankers to put more money and resources into nearby states.

Valley National's latest acquisition would make it a much bigger player in Florida and provide a platform to write more auto loans. Both markets present attractive returns but high risks.

Associated Banc-Corp is the latest industry welterweight to get back into M&A. That should benefit larger sellers that have watched the bigger regionals sit idle in the last couple of years.

The Birmingham, Ala., bank has been cutting exposure to indirect auto, multifamily and medical office lending, categories it deems high-risk.

The Ohio company also reported that credit quality metrics remain well within its targeted range.

Increased dealings in direct consumer lending and guaranteed student loans offset a decline in mortgage-related income. A lower loan-loss provision also helped the bottom line.

But the Connecticut company says the efficiencies of its recent acquisition of Suffolk Bancorp will begin to be realized soon.