Growth

The Long Island-based regional bank, which reported another quarterly loss Friday, continues to hire in the commercial-and-industrial lending sphere as it seeks to diversify its commercial real estate-heavy business.

The Pennsylvania bank, which is working to diversify its deposit base and increase its access to low-cost deposits, has brought on some 10 commercial banking teams in the last year.

The Sunshine State deal comes following a banner year for credit union-bank combinations, despite pushback from community banking advocates.

Nashville-based FB Financial announced the opening of a new office in Asheville, North Carolina, a week after striking a $381 million deal for an Alabama-based community bank.

A technique first used to sell flowers and gifts has evolved into one of the financial service industry's most effective digital tools for acquiring customers and selling products and services.

Equity Bancshares said it would pay nearly $87 million in cash and stock to acquire NBC Corp. of Oklahoma. If it closes, the deal will be Equity's 13th bank acquisition since 2015.

The first year of Otting's tenure as the New York lender's CEO brought substantial change, but the job isn't done. His goal: to build a powerhouse, profitable regional bank.

The proposed sale of Territorial Bancorp faced competing offers that delayed its closing by several months. But Hope ultimately won shareholder and regulatory approvals.

"I can't just go fishing in the ocean," said Grasshopper Bank CEO Michael Butler, referring to his bank's ability to gather deposits. "JPMorgan Chase is out there with a yacht, and I'm driving a small speedboat."