After the bank's 2014 spinoff from Royal Bank of Scotland, its executives worked to shore up weaknesses. Now they're concentrating on how to close the gap with regional banking peers.

The $17 billion-asset Suffolk-based company is convinced paying $120 million for an in-state rival is a more productive use of capital than share buybacks

The latest violations come as the bank expects to face more than $3 billion in regulatory fines for anti-money-laundering failures.

The bank faced credit setbacks in the nation's capital and margin pressure this year. But it made a series of hires to reduce risk and diversify its loan portfolio, preparing for a new era of demand as the industry awaits interest rate cuts.

After hikes pinched profits across the industry, a move in the opposite direction could be the start of a more promising trend. But bankers caution that the immediate effects of a September rate cut figure to be small.

REV Federal Credit Union in suburban Charleston, South Carolina, plans to acquire First Neighborhood Bank in West Virginia. It marks the 15th deal this year involving a credit union buying a bank, closing in on 2022's record of 16 deals.

Lower interest rates could bolster loan demand, credit quality and securities portfolios. But they could also curb lending profitability faster than they ease deposit costs, crimping net interest margins and eating into near-term profits.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency wants to update the dual mission of the Federal Home Loan Banks. Members of the private bank cooperative say their regulator has no authority to redefine the mission.

The Hammond, Louisiana, company, which announced changes to its business strategy, cut 71 jobs and reduced its dividend to 8 cents per share.

The buyer said the all-stock deal to buy The First Bancshares would create a combined bank with $25 billion of assets.