Washington Federal in Seattle has agreed to pay a civil money penalty tied to a consent order.The $19.6 billion-asset company said in a press release Thursday that its bank reached an agreement with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to make a $2.5 million payment.Washington Federal characterized the payment as a "milestone" as it works its way out from under the 2018 consent order. The order instructed the

SmartFinancial in Knoxville, Tenn., has sold a loan portfolio and other assets to First Bank in Strasburg, Va. The $3.7 billion-asset SmartFinancial said in a press release Thursday that it will also transfer the lease to a branch in Richmond, Va., to First Bank in the fourth quarter. First Bank acquired $83 million of loans. SmartFinancial said it would receive a premium based on a specific percentage of the loans

First Financial in Terre Haute, Ind., plans to close about 10% of its branches over the next two quarters.The $4.8 billion-asset company said in a press release Thursday that it will shutter nine locations. It closed another branch earlier this year. “Our customers are rapidly adopting our online banking platforms which provides us with an opportunity to consolidate these branches into other nearby locations while maintaining the high level of

First Citizens BancShares in Raleigh, N.C., and CIT Group in New York have extended the deadline for their proposed merger from Oct. 15 to March 1. The $55.2 billion-asset First Citizens said in a press release that it is still waiting on approval from the Federal Reserve. The Office of the North Carolina Commissioner of Banks and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. have already signed off on the proposed $2.2

BancPlus in Ridgeland, Miss., has agreed to buy First Trust in New Orleans. The $5.1 billion-asset BancPlus said in a press release Wednesday that it expects to complete the purchase of the $1.3 billion-asset First Trust in the first quarter. It did not disclose the price it will pay. First Trust has 14 branches, $1.2 billion of deposits and $1.1 billion of loans in Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida.  “We are very

Southern Missouri Bancorp in Poplar Bluff, Mo., will enter the St. Louis market with an agreement to buy Fortune Financial in Arnold, Mo.The $2.7 billion-asset Southern Missouri said in a press release Tuesday that it will pay $29.9 million for the $254 million-asset parent of FortuneBank. Southern Missouri will also assume about $7.5 million of subordinated debt. The deal is expected to close late in the first quarter. FortuneBank has $209 milion

MainStreet Bancshares in Fairfax., Va., has promoted an insider to run its newly formed Banking as a Service division. The $1.7 billion-asset company said in a press release Tuesday that Todd Youngren had become president of Avenu, a division of its bank that looks to provide services to fintechs.Youngrens previously served as managing director for the fintech and payments banking group."This promotion recognizes Todd’s exceptional leadership in bringing our Banking

First Financial in Terre Haute, Ind., is planning to combine its two banking units. The $4.8 billion-asset company said in a press release Monday that it will merge The Morris Plan Company of Terre Haute into First Financial Bank on Dec. 31. First Financial said the move will result in increased efficiencies, beginning in the first quarter.