HomeTrust Bancshares in Asheville, N.C., has agreed to sell two branches in Knoxville, Tenn., to Apex Bank in Camden, Tenn. The $4.6  billion-asset HomeTrust said in a press release that the branches have about $42 million in deposits. HomeTrust plans to keep all the loans tied to the locations. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter. "This transaction aligns with our strategic plan to tighten our geographic

Norwood Financial in Honesdale, Pa., which raised $30 million in December, reported a net loss in the fourth quarter after selling underwater securities. The $2.3 billion-asset company said in a press release that it lost $12.7 million in the quarter. The results included a $20 million hit from repositioning its securities portfolio. The move allowed Norward to focus on improved yields in future quarters. "We believe the portfolio is better

MutualOne Bank in Framingham, Mass., has a new leader. The bank said in a press release that Kristin Carvalho had become its CEO. Carvalho, who was president and chief operating officer, succeeded Mark Haranas, who will remain chairman. Carvalho will remain president.

Fulton Financial in Lancaster, Pa., will close 15 branches in the coming months. Seven of the branches are in Pennsylvania, while the rest are out-of-state locations, a spokesman told WHTM. The first branches will close in mid-April. Fulton has more than 230 branches.

Midland States Bancorp in Effingham, Ill., reported a quarterly loss after stepping up efforts to distance itself from two lending arrangements. The $7.5 billion-asset company said in a press release that it lost $54.8 million in the fourth quarter. The loss included a $50.7 million loan-loss provision tied to the sale of its LendingPoint consumer loan portfolio and a plan to sell its Greensky portfolio. The company sold $87.1 million

Heritage Financial in Olympia, Wash., sold more securities and restructured its bank-owned life insurance in the fourth quarter. The $7.1 billion-asset company said in a press release that its quarterly profit still doubled that of a year earlier, totaling $11.9 million. Heritage sold $35.6 million of lower-yielding investment securities at a $3.9 million pretax loss. Proceeds were used to fund higher-yielding loan growth. (The company sold $78 million of investment

Fiserv has recruited the president at PNC Financial Services Group in Pittsburgh to become its next leader. PNC said in a press release that Michael Lyons is leaving to become president and CEO-elect at Fiserv. Lyons, who joined PNC in 2011, became president last year. "Mike has been with PNC for 13 years and has been instrumental in our growth and success," PNC Chairman and CEO William Demchak said in

Cadence Bank in Tupelo, Miss., has agreed to buy FCB Financial in Savannah, Ga. The $50 billion-asset Cadence said in a press release that it will pay $103.6 million in cash and stock for the parent of the $590 million-asset First Chatham Bank. The deal is expected to close in the third quarter. First Chatham has $329 million of loans and $510 million of deposits. "First Chatham Bank’s deep roots