Strategic buyers

Professional Holding has opened an office close to Boston to make loans to aspiring CEOs — often recent business school graduates — who are looking to buy their first businesses.

Spirit of Texas Bancshares is acquiring four branches and a loan production office from Simmons First National as part of an aggressive expansion in its home state.

Howard Bancorp is planning a big push in CRE lending, first in its hometown of Baltimore and eventually in Washington.

The industry's dominant growth strategy of 2019 was a hot topic during a House Financial Services Committee hearing.

If regional banks really want to compete against behemoths and nonbank entrants they need to emphasize products over M&A.

Readers react to the FDIC's fine against a bank over a 5-year-old consent order, Regions Financial's about-face on acquisitions, HUD's promotion of a controversial CFPB official and more.

Readers react to whether the next presidential debate will discuss banking, how California's financial policies are bleeding into other blue states, suggested reforms to the Community Reinvestment Act and more.

Three years into the turnaround plan at CIT Group, Ellen Alemany continues to remake the commercial finance company she inherited into more of a traditional bank. The purchase of Mutual of Omaha Bank is another step toward that goal.

Other banks have made splashy acquisitions there, but PSB Holdings is getting ready to open a branch after making inroads in the market for three years. Its next step could be M&A.

The co-head of the bank’s securities division, 55, was once seen as a possible CEO; the institutions are gobbling up small banks at a record pace, prompting pushback from banks.

Joseph Campanelli, CEO of Needham Bank, wants to be ready to scoop up mutuals struggling with rising costs and yield curve challenges.

First Mutual Holding is buying the tiny Blue Grass Federal and keeping its charter. The deal will allow the seller to save costs and maintain its autonomy.

Professional Bank and Marquis Bank, both of Coral Gables, have been competing against each other for more than a decade. Now they are merging in hopes of landing larger clients and making better use of technology being developed in Professional's innovation lab.

Credit unions not actively thinking about mergers are at risk of missing out, an industry expert warned at a recent conference.

Once the merger between Infinity FCU and Vibrant CU is completed, the combined institution will have 17 branches across five states.

As management teams meet to set their priorities, there is a range of issues, including consolidation, cybersecurity and succession planning, that will likely come up.

Seed, a San Francisco startup, has developed a platform that lets small businesses quickly open accounts online. That's an important feature for Cross River as it courts more fintech clients.

Its CEO says organic growth is preferable, but after spending five years tackling a series of enforcement actions tied to BSA compliance, the Pennsylvania bank has options.

The deals lets a North Carolina group skip the de novo process. West Town, which sold the bank, will use the funds to support a fast-growing business line.

After the merger is completed, Cedars-Sinai Federal Credit Union's one branch will be relocated.