A potential battle is brewing at First Foundation after the Dallas company invalidated an attempt by an activist investor to have individuals stand for board election. The $13 billion-asset company disclosed in a regulatory filing that it determined that Driver Management’s nomination notice was “materially deficient” and that its window for accepting nominations had closed. “Driver does not have the right to nominate any candidates for election as directors at

Byline Bancorp in Chicago briefly walked away from talks to buy Inland Bancorp in Oak Brook, Ill. The $7.4 billion-asset Byline agreed in late November to buy the $1.2 million-asset Inland for $165 million in cash and stock. Initial talks between the companies ended last May before being resurrected three months later, according to a regulatory filing tied to the pending deal. Inland’s investment bank reached out to a variety

Dietrich Bank in Effingham, Ill., will soon have a new CEO. The $1.2 billion-asset bank said in a press release that Jason Semple, its chief financial officer, will succeed the retiring Chuck Deters on May 1. Semple will also join the boards of the bank and its holding company, Prime Banc Corp. Deters, who has been CEO since 2014, agreed to stay for a transition period through the second quarter.

Main Street Financial Services in Wheeling, W.Va., has agreed to buy Wayne Savings Bancshares in Wooster, Ohio. The $604.3 million-asset Main Street said in a press release that it will pay $68 million in stock for the $729.8 million-asset Wayne Savings. The deal is expected to close in the second half of this year. Wayne Savings’ shareholders are expected to own about 52.5% of the combined company, which will retain the

First Citizens BancShares in Raleigh, N.C., has rebranded its vendor equipment finance unit. The $109.3 billion-asset company said in a press release that CIT Business Capital has been renamed First Citizens Bank Equipment Finance. First Citizens obtained the business from its January 2022 purchase of CIT Group. "This brand transition is about much more than just clarifying our message to the market," Peter Bristow, president of First Citizens Bank, said

LINKBANCORP in Camp Hill, Pa., has agreed to buy Partners Bancorp in Salisbury, Md. The $1.2 billion-asset LINK agreed to pay $167.8 million in stock for the $1.6 billion-asset parent of Bank of Delmarva and Virginia Partners Bank. The deal is expected to close in the third quarter. The announcement comes weeks after OceanFirst Financial and Partners agreed to terminate their planned merger after being unable to secure regulatory approval.

At least 136 banks insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. had ongoing or planned crypto-related activities in January. Many of the banks have third-party arrangements that let the bank’s customers buy and sell crypto assets, the FDIC said in its latest Office of Inspector General report. Banks also provide account deposit services, custody services and lending to crypto asset exchanges. Banks also sponsor debit cards and prepaid cards that

Brunswick Bancorp in New Brunswick, N.J., considered six offers before agreeing to negotiate exclusively with Mid Penn Bancorp in Harrisburg, Pa. The $4.3 billion-asset Mid Penn agreed to buy the $382 million-asset Brunswick on Dec. 20 for $53.9 million. Brunswick’s search for a buyer began in 2021 when it “engaged in substantial discussions” with two banks, according to a regulatory filing tied to the pending sale to Mid Penn. One