Commercial bank M&A continues onward and upward. TS Banking Group (IA), a newly formed joint venture between Treynor Bancshares ($286mm, IA) and TS Contrarian Bancshares (IA) designed to acquire community banks in the Midwest will acquire The Bank of Tioga ($140mm, ND) for an undisclosed sum. In Illinois Better Banks ($246mm) will acquire First National Bank of Chillicothe ($67mm) for an undisclosed sum. Kansas' The Stockton National Bank ($112mm) will acquire First Security Bank & Trust Co. ($63mm) for about 1.0x book at closing date plus an additional $1.5mm. Over in Wyoming Platte Valley Bank ($236mm) will acquire a branch (including all deposits and loans) from Buffalo Federal Savings Bank ($121mm). The Boards of Directors of Valley National Bancorp (NYSE:VLY) and 1st United Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: FUBC) announced that the companies have entered into a merger agreement.