Itaú Bank has applied for a national bank charter. The application, filed with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. on March 16, said the bank would be based in Miami. It would be regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The application, which wasn't immediately available, comes on the heels of Brazil's Nu Holdings receiving conditional approval for a national bank charter.

A group is planning a bank in Bedford, N.H. Organizers submitted an application to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. on March 13 to form Strategist Bank. The application wasn't immediately available. A public notice tied to the application lists four organizers: Michael Simchik, Robert Pace, Dylan Cruess and James Pietro.

CSB Financial in Bethel, Ohio, plans to raise up to $14.6 million as part of a plan to convert from a mutual to a stock-owned company. CSB, which would become the holding company for the $110.2 million-asset Community Savings Bank, plans to sell 935,000 to 1.3 million shares of common stock at $10 each. If there is enough demand, the company could sell 1.5 million shares. Community Savings will receive

ABNB Federal Credit Union in Chesapeake, Va., has agreed to buy two North Carolina branches from First Bank of Virginia in Strasburg. The branches, located in Roanoke Rapids and Louisburg, had $52.9 million in deposits in mid-2025, according to data from the Federal Insurance Deposit Corp. The price wasn't disclosed. The deal is expected to close later this year. “We are pleased to welcome the communities of Roanoke Rapids and

Billy Beale, who helped Blue Ridge Bancshares in Richmond, Va., get out from under an enforcement action and return to profitability, has retired. The company said in a press release that Beale retired on March 6 and stepped down from its board. Harry Golliday, the company's chief credit officer, will serve as interim CEO. Beale, who became president and CEO in July 2023, led efforts to exit a consent order

A proposed bank in Bellevue, Wash., has received conditional approval from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Organizers of the proposed United Development Bank must raise $15 million before opening. The group, which aims to operate as a minority depository institution (MDI), applied to regulators in August. Charlie Guildner, a former president and CEO of North Cascades Bank, would serve as president and CEO.

Esquire Financial Holdings in Jericho, N.Y., has agreed to buy Signature Bancorp. in Rosemont, Ill. The $2.8 billion-asset Esquire said in a press release that it will pay $348.4 million in stock for the $2 billion-asset Signature. The deal, which is expected to close in the third quarter, priced Signature at 153% of its tangible book value. The exchange ratio is subject to an adjustment based on the disposition value

Armstrong Bank in Muskogee, Okla., has agreed to buy five branches from First Guaranty Bancshares in Hammond, La. The $4.1 billion-asset First Guaranty will exit Texas after selling the locations, along with $270 million in deposits and $110 million in loans, to the $2.7 million-asset Armstrong. The deal, which includes a 7.65% deposit premium, is expected to close in the third quarter. First Guaranty said the deal should boost its