Paul Davis

First Financial Bankshares Inc. in Abilene, Texas, is planning a three-for-two split of its common stock. The $3.83 billion-asset company said the split will take the form of a 50% stock dividend, which it will distribute on June 1 to shareholders of record on May 15.

Sterling Bancorp in New York reported Tuesday that first-quarter earnings rose 71% from a year earlier, to $3.3 million. The $2.39 billion-asset company's loan-loss provision was halved from the first quarter of 2010, to $3 million.

BancorpSouth Inc. in Tupelo, Miss., reported a first-quarter loss because of higher credit costs and a decline in mortgage-related revenue.

First Michigan Bancorp has changed the name of its bank to reflect its growing geography across the Midwest. The company on Monday said it had renamed the unit Talmer Bank and Trust.

National Penn Bancshares Inc. in Boyertown, Pa., reported a big increase in profits on Thursday, which it attributed largely to improved credit.

Umpqua Holdings Corp. in Portland, Ore., on Thursday reported a first-quarter profit after recording its lowest loan-loss provision since mid-2007.

Norwood Financial Corp. in Honesdale, Pa., said late Wednesday that its pending acquisition of North Penn Bancorp Inc. reduced its profitability.

First Niagara Financial Group Inc. in Buffalo, N.Y., reported a slight dip in earnings compared with the previous quarter as it completed its acquisition of NewAlliance Bancshares Inc.

The $4.41 billion-asset company said Thursday that shareholders had approved adding Allison Nickle Egidi, Najeeb Khan and Christopher Murphy to the board.

Sandy Spring Bancorp Inc. in Olney, Md., on Thursday reported an increase in profit due to its exit from the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Republic Bancorp Inc. in Louisville, Ky., reported higher first-quarter profit despite lower volume in its controversial refund-anticipation loan business.

Whitney Holding Corp. in New Orleans reported a profitable first quarter on Thursday, a day after the company that is buying it did the same.

Fulton Financial Corp. in Lancaster, Pa., attributed its improved first-quarter earnings partly to better cost control. The $16 billion-asset company posted a 22.9% increase in profit from a year earlier, to $33.8 million.

Hancock Holding Co. in Gulfport, Miss., said its earnings rose 11% from a year earlier. The $8.31 billion-asset company posted earnings of $15.3 million, compared with $13.8 million a year earlier.

Brookline Bancorp in Massachusetts will pay $234 million in cash and stock for Bancorp Rhode Island in a transaction that will create a company with nearly $5 billion in assets.

The Buffalo, N.Y., company said that the $1.5 billion purchase created a bank with over $30 billion of assets and $18 billion of deposits in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and New York.

The Federal Reserve has terminated an enforcement action against Currie Bancorp of Minnesota. Currie, the parent of the $44.9 million-asset Currie State Bank, had been operating under a written agreement since November 2008.

The Federal Reserve and state regulators in New York and Florida last week issued a cease-and-desist order against Banco Industrial de Venezuela.

Mercantile Bank Corp. in Grand Rapids, Mich., returned to profitability in the first quarter after two years of losses.

Southwest Bancorp Inc. in Stillwater, Okla., on Tuesday reported a first-quarter profit despite a sharp rise in its loan-loss provision.