Bank of Frankewing in Frankewing, Tenn., has a new leader. Richard Burleson announced on his LinkedIn page that he had become the $549 million-asset bank's president and CEO. Burleson was president and CEO of Community First Bank in South Carolina from 2015 to 2024, according to his LinkedIn profile.

First Bancorp in Southern Pines, N.C., posted significantly lower net income after repositioning its securities portfolio. The $12.1 billion-asset company said in a press release that its fourth-quarter profit fell by 88% from a year earlier, to $3.6 million. First Bancorp said it sold $280 million of securities in November at a $36.8 million loss. The company then invested $495 million in higher-yielding securities.

Amalgamated Bank of Chicago has selected an insider as its new CEO. The $1.2 billion-asset bank said in a statement that Nick Weaver had succeeded Robert Wrobel, who remains chairman. Weaver rejoined the bank as COO in 2023 and became president a year later.

The banking industry is changing fast, with new technology, tougher regulations, and increased competition. To stay competitive, financial institutions must decide whether to grow independently or merge with stronger partners. Enterprise Bancorp in Lowell, Mass., recently chose the latter, agreeing in December to sell to Independent Bank Corp. in Rockland, Mass., to create a stronger, more stable bank. The $19.4 billion-asset Independent agreed to pay $562 million in cash and

Central Pacific Financial in Honolulu posted lower quarterly profit that reflected a decision to sell securities at a loss. The $7.5 billion-asset company said in a press release that its fourth-quarter net income fell by 24% from a year earlier, to $11.3 million. The company sold $106.5 million of debt securities at a $9.9 million pretax loss during the fourth quarter. The proceeds were reinvested in $101.6 million of higher-yielding

Plumas Bancorp in Reno, Nev., has agreed to buy Cornerstone Community Bancorp in Red Bluff, Calif. The $1.6 billion-asset Plumas said in a press release that it will pay $64.6 million in cash and stock for the $658 million-asset Cornerstone. The deal, which is expected to close in the second half of this year, priced Cornerstone at 146% of its tangible book value. Cornerstone has four branches, $584 million in

Flushing Financial in Uniondale, N.Y., which recently raised $70 million, had a noisy quarter as it restructured its balance sheet. The $9 billion-asset company lost $49.2 million in the fourth quarter. The company sold $445 million of securities and moved $73.9 million of loans to held-for-sale status, resulting in a $76.4 million pretax loss. Flushing then bought $384 million of higher-yielding securities. It also terminated $200 million of related investment

U.S. Bancorp in Minneapolis will soon have a new CEO. The $678 billion-asset company said in a press release that Gunjan Kedia, its president, will succeed Andy Cecere at its April 15 annual meeting. Cecere will remain executive chairman. “The company’s bench is deep, and the talent to grow and promote from within is impressive,” Roland Hernandez, the company's lead independent director, said in the release. “We are inspired by