Paul Davis

Interest rate risk. Demanding regulatory and GSE standards. Shifting demographics. These are among the reasons that lenders will have a hard time balancing the call for affordable home loans with legal and market realities.

East West Bancorp in Los Angeles has been hit with a nearly $39 million in damages tied to a lawsuit from a borrower.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency is receptive to the idea of Federal Home Loan Bank mergers, according to the agency's director.

BancorpSouth in Tupelo, Miss., has been hit with a consent order tied to compliance weaknesses tied to the Bank Secrecy Act and the Patriot Act.

A large shareholder at Valley Community Bank is objecting to the Pleasanton, Calif., company's sale to FNB Bancorp in South San Francisco.

Howard Bancorp in Ellicott City, Md., raised nearly $500,000 in capital after management and directors exercised warrants to buy common stock.

Congressional Bancshares in Bethesda, Md., has agreed to buy American Bank Holdings in Bethesda.

Leaders of large community banks in the Southeast are keen on acquisitions, though their level of interest varies widely. Some, like Home BancShares in Arkansas, are eager to line up the next big deal. Others, including Bank of the Ozarks, seem content to steal lenders and open offices after several years of acquisitions.

First South Bancorp in Washington, N.C., has become the latest community bank to buy branches from Bank of America.

Regulatory delays have forced ViewPoint Financial in Plano, Texas, and LegacyTexas Group in Plano to push back the closing date for their planned merger a second time.

Great Western Bancorp in Sioux Falls, S.D., has filed documents for an initial public offering.

Unity Bancorp in Clinton, N.J., raised $6.3 million from a rights offering.

BNC Bancorp in High Point, N.C., has filed to sell up to $150 million in securities. The $3.7 billion-asset company said in a filing Tuesday that it could issue common and preferred stock, debt securities and other securities from time to time.

Regions Financial in Birmingham, Ala., should save some money after deciding against filling a soon-to-be-vacant executive post.

Northwest Bancshares in Warren, Pa., has promoted two executives and eliminated a pair of high-level positions.

First Bancorp in Southern Pines, N.C., will close 10 branches in three states.

Mid Penn Bancorp in Millersburg, Pa., has agreed to buy Phoenix Bancorp in Minersville, Pa.

Premara Financial in Charlotte, N.C., has named an interim president after the abrupt departure of its long-time leader.

American National Bankshares in Danville, Va., has agreed to buy MainStreet BankShares in Martinsville, Va.

Peapack-Gladstone Financial in Bedminster, N.J., could look to raise up to $100 million in coming months.