In Brief: Wis. Thrift Settles Suit, Takes $300,000 Hit

St. Francis Capital Corp., Brookfield, Wis., said it would take a $300,000 charge against earnings for the second quarter in connection with a lawsuit recently settled by its subsidiary, St. Francis Bank.

The $1.6 billion-asset thrift was sued by seven Milwaukee-area homeowners referred to it by a home improvement contractor that went out of business before completing its work. The plaintiffs alleged that St. Francis was negligent in making the loans and conspired with the contractor to commit theft.

In May a jury sided with the plaintiffs and awarded $1.8 million in damages. St. Francis immediately appealed but announced last week that it had settled the case for an undisclosed sum.

"Although we remain convinced St. Francis acted properly, we were presented with an opportunity to end litigation on terms we determined appropriate," said president and chief executive officer Thomas R. Perz.

St. Francis is the Milwaukee area's largest thrift company, with 25 branches in six counties. In June it announced plans to buy Reliance Bancshares, Milwaukee, for cash and stock valued at $23.7 million.

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