Pioneer Bancorp in Albany, N.Y., is looking to switch regulators. The $2 billion-asset company disclosed in a regulatory filing that its bank applied with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to become a national bank. Pioneer Bank is currently a New York chartered savings bank.

Sierra Bancorp in Porterville, Calif., said it could use proceeds from recent sale-leaseback agreements to offset potential securities losses. The $3.7 billion-asset company disclosed in a regulatory filing that its bank will transfer ownership of 13 California branches in two transactions to affiliates of Blue Owl Real Estate Capital for net proceeds of $14.3 million. The first tranche closed on Dec. 21 and the second tranche should close early next

Union Bank & Trust in Lincoln, Neb., will soon have a new leader with a familiar last name. The $8.3 billion-asset bank announced that Jason Muhleisen will succeed his mother, Angie, as president and CEO on Jan. 1. Angie Muhleisen, who has been CEO since 2003, will remain on the board and will work on some special projects at the bank. The bank has been run by the Dunlap-Muhleisen family

The clock is ticking for Liberty Bank in Salt Lake City. The $12.8 million-asset bank entered into a consent order with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to boost capital levels, then find a buyer or liquidate. The bank consented to the Nov. 21 order without admitting or denying any charges of unsafe or unsound banking practices. The FDIC’s claims are tied to capital deterioration, operating losses, inaccurate books and records,

Olney Bancshares of Texas will soon have a new CEO. The company said in a press release that CK Lee will succeed Pascal Hosch, who is retiring on Dec. 31. Lee will remain Olney’s president. Lee will also become CEO of the $4 billion-asset InterBank in Oklahoma City. Hosch will remain on the company and bank boards. Lee has also been InterBank’s chief operating officer since July 2020.

United Community Banks in Blairsville, Ga., repositioned its securities portfolio and disclosed the impact of a special assessment from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. The $26.9 billion-asset company disclosed in a regulatory filing that it sold $316 million of available-for-sale securities at a $52 million pretax loss. The proceeds were reinvested in higher-yielding bonds. United said the moves should increase annual net interest income by $9.6 million and earnings per

NB Bancorp in Needham, Mass., completed its conversion from a mutual holding company to a stock holding company. The $4.2 billion-asset company said in a press release that it sold nearly 41 million shares of common stock at $10 each, or roughly $410 million. It contributed roughly 1.7 million shares and $2 million cash to the Needham Bank Charitable Foundation. Needham Bank’s employee stock ownership plan plans to buy up

Arthur State Bank in Union, S.C., announced that its CEO is retiring. The $748 million-asset bank said in a LinkedIn post that Danny Cook planned to retire. The post did not give a retirement date or name a successor. “His administration has inspired us all and his impact will resonate with Arthur State Bank for years,” the post said.