Republic First Bancorp in Philadelphia is one step closer to getting caught up on its regulatory filings.The $5.7 billion-asset company said in a press release that Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, an outside firm, has completed its review of related-party transactions, certain internal controls and “associated financial statement and disclosure implications.” The results are being evaluated by Republic First’s audit committee, management and an independent registered public accounting firm. As

Ronald Paul, who abruptly stepped down as chairman and CEO of Eagle Bancorp in Bethesda, Md., in 2019, has been barred from the banking industry.The Federal Reserve also fined Paul $90,000 after the former executive agreed to resolve claims he and the $10.9 billion-asset Eagle made negligently false and misleading statements about related-party loans tied to his business interests.EagleBank agreed to pay a $9.5 million fine for violating the Fed's insider lending regulations.Separately,

First Horizon in Memphis, Tenn., has sold its title insurance subsidiary. The $43.7 billion-asset company sold Lenders Title Group to Knox-Precision Holdings. The price wasn’t disclosed.“Our historical success is due to the hard work and dedication of our title associates and the confidence our clients have in us, all backed by the support of our banking colleagues throughout the years,” Beau Fast, Lenders Title’s president and CEO, said in a Tuesday

M&T Bank in Buffalo, N.Y., has hired an executive from Bank of America to become its chief digital officer. The $204 billion-asset M&T said in a press release Tuesday that Ishet Dhar will focus on the role digital plays in creating simple, differentiated experiences for clients and employees. He will report to Christopher Kay, M&T’s head of consumer/business banking. Dhar previously served as senior vice president of digital consumer delivery at Bank

Central Bank of Kansas City in Missouri has spun off its payments and card-issuing platform after the business raised $30 million. Central Payments, founded in 2014 as part of the $350 million-asset Central, said in a press release that it raised funds from investors that include Castle Creek Capital and Launchpad Capital. Central will remain an investor in Central Payments. “Since inception, we have remained steadfast in our belief that new technology

BankTech Ventures in Sandy, Utah, has closed on its first fund after bringing in more than $115 million in capital commitments. BankTech said in a press release Monday that the initial round included more than 100 limited partners, comprised almost entirely of community banks. The firm has made eight investments since its first closing in November. “It’s been a whirlwind nine months since we launched BTV,” Carey Ransom, the firm’s managing director,

Harvesters Credit Union in Cantonment, Fla., has agreed to buy First National Bank Northwest Florida in Panama City. The $239 million-asset First National filed an application with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. for the proposed merger on Aug. 5. The filing wasn’t immediately available. The $275 million-asset Harvesters has more than 18,000 members. First National has two branches.Ten credit unions have announced agreements to buy banks this year.

Sterling Bancorp in Southfield, Mich., is continuing to reckon with issues tied to a mortgage program it abruptly shuttered in 2019. The $2.5 billion-asset company said in a press release Monday that it is making progress tied to various investigations into the defunct Advantage Loan Program. Thomas O’Brien, who was hired as chairman, president and CEO in mid-2020 to address Sterling’s issues, said in the release that the company had implemented all