Community banking

The move is important for new banks in states like California, where a small-business lending program requires a three-star rating from the agency.

Before the passage of the recent regulatory relief law, only banks with assets of less than $1 billion were on an 18-month exam schedule.

The company will enter the Iowa cities of Des Moines and Dubuque as part of the $170 million acquisition.

Enforcement actions are on the rise despite recent rollbacks of regulations. Fair lending, money laundering compliance and CRA remain focal points for examiners.

Community bankers take pride in their personal touch with customers, but they must extend it to mobile platforms. A good start is creating digital hubs that let customers view their full financial picture in one place, a chief technology officer says.