BankNews.com

Bank of North Dakota President Don Morgan is overseeing the launch of the state’s stablecoin later this year. Morgan sees the Roughrider Coin as a way to protect North Dakota’s community banks against losing deposits to the nonbanking sector. banknews.com/chronicles/sta…

Fidelity BancShares in North Carolina is expanding to Georgia by acquiring Covington-based Affinity Bancshares for $142.8 million. banknews.com/chronicles/fid…

Paris, Ill.-based Edgar County Banc Shares is acquiring Preferred Bancorp and subsidiary Preferred Bank, both of Casey, Ill. banknews.com/chronicles/eas…

Toby Clements was named senior executive vice president and chief operations officer at Minneapolis-based U.S. Bancorp. banknews.com/people/us-banc…

Springfield, Mo.-based Guaranty Bank appointed Heather Ramsey executive vice president, chief deposit officer. banknews.com/people/guarant…

Robert W. Mathiasen was appointed CEO of Willmar, Minn.-based Heritage Bank, effective April 1. banknews.com/people/heritag…

Fargo, N.D.-based Gate City Bank donated more than $500,000 to local schools and colleges through its My School Spirit program. banknews.com/community-rela…

Legislators recently reintroduced a bill increasing FDIC insurance limits up to $5 million at banks with less than $250 billion in assets. banknews.com/chronicles/rev…

Elk Grove Village, Ill.-based First American Bank is consolidating its branches in Kankakee and Bourbonnais, Ill., following damage from a March 10 tornado and hailstorm. banknews.com/chronicles/fir…

Oregon, Wis.-based One Community Bank hired Peter Moskal as senior vice president-commercial banking manager. banknews.com/people/one-com…

Bloomington, Ill.-based HBT Financial appointed Michael J. Morton to the board of directors of the company and its subsidiary, Heartland Bank and Trust Company. banknews.com/people/hbt-fin…

The Financial Stability Oversight Council voted to raise the standard for designating nonbank firms for increased prudential oversight by the Federal Reserve. banknews.com/chronicles/fso…

United Valley Bank board member Dan Rust has spent a decade in his position. banknews.com/honors/amazing…

Troy Norris joined Champaign, Ill.-based Busey Bank as executive vice president and regional president of its Arizona region. banknews.com/people/busey-b…

Mattoon, Ill.-based First Mid Insurance Group named Andrew Weintraub senior vice president, head of health insurance. banknews.com/people/first-m…

Sparta, Mich.-based ChoiceOne Financial Services and subsidiary ChoiceOne Bank promoted 13 employees, including six vice presidents. banknews.com/people/choiceo…

Proposed bans on collecting interchange fees for some payments have advanced in Colorado and Delaware. banknews.com/chronicles/int…

BankBeat magazine Columnist Justin Dullum visited with Matt Phipps, the chief marketing officer for Agent IQ, which offers a bridge between digital convenience and personal service. banknews.com/opinion/ai-ass…

Hillsdale, Mich.-based County National Bank hired Julian J. Darden as vice president-commercial loan officer. banknews.com/people/county-…

Canadian digital banking and cybersecurity solutions company VersaBank is selling its sole branch in Minnesota back to St. Cloud-based Stearns Bank. banknews.com/chronicles/ver…