Robert Barba

Six weeks after scrapping a long-delayed deal, Republic First Bancorp Inc. in Philadelphia is looking to raise more capital.

The Chicago company said Monday that its loans declined slightly in the first quarter as it struggled to find new qualified borrowers and focused its attention on resolving the troubled loan portfolio that has dogged it in the past two years.

SCBT Financial Corp. of Columbia, S.C., said its first-quarter earnings skyrocketed, largely as a result of its acquisition of the failed Community Bank and Trust in Cornelia, Ga.

Though smaller companies may still bid on individual failed banks, they may have to enlarge their bids — perhaps significantly — to compete with package buyers.

Community Capital Corp. in Greenwood, S.C., said its earnings jumped sharply in the first quarter as credit quality showed significant improvement.

Enterprise Financial Services Corp. of St. Louis said Tuesday that it narrowed its first-quarter loss to $3 million, from $51.8 million a year earlier, as credit costs declined but problem loans increased.

Seacoast Banking Corp. of Florida in Stuart has released to its investors $200 million in capital it was holding in escrow because it did not place the winning bid for Riverside National Bank in Fort Pierce, Fla.

A Chicago start-up venture called GreenChoice Bank has entered into an agreement to acquire the undercapitalized Family Federal Savings of Illinois through a supervisory conversion.

After selling a large chunk of its nonperforming assets in the fourth quarter, State Bancorp Inc. in Jericho, N.Y., returned to profitability in the first quarter.

The $5.1 billion-asset company, with dual headquarters in Lansing, Mich., and Phoenix, announced Friday that it had entered into stock redemption agreements with the local owners of Fort Collins Commerce Bank, Larimer Bank of Commerce and Loveland Bank of Commerce.

Four Oaks Fincorp Inc. and a shareholder are engaged in a proxy battle over a proposal to separate the North Carolina company's chairman and CEO roles.

Westamerica Bancorp. of San Rafael, Calif., announced Tuesday that its first-quarter earnings fell 55% from a year earlier, to $23.6 million, as its credit costs remained relatively low but were significantly higher than a year earlier.

First Mariner Bancorp of Baltimore has boosted its common equity by $10.9 million. The $1.38 billion-asset company announced Tuesday that it had raised $3.9 million through a rights offering to existing shareholders, and raised the remaining $7 million in a public stock offering.

With $250 million of capital headed its way, Seacoast Banking Corp. of Florida could make the big leap from survivor to acquirer.

Shareholders were persuaded to double down on PVF because the new chief executive plans to transform the thrift company into a major player in the disrupted Cleveland market.

Pacific Mercantile Bancorp in Costa Mesa, Calif., reported a $6.8 million loss for the fourth quarter, cutting its loss nearly in half from a year earlier, with the improvement primarily driven by a lower provision for loan losses.

PremierWest Bancorp in Medford, Ore., has succeeded in recapitalizing its bank, though a fresh regulatory order has pushed back the target.

With its latest deal, Investors Bancorp Inc. has made strides toward achieving two of its goals: extending its reach to New York City and adding to its commercial loan portfolio.

Charter Bank in Bellevue, Wash., is changing its name to better reflect its mission of serving high-net-worth individuals and their businesses.

Anchor BanCorp Wisconsin Inc. is going back to square one in its recapitalization efforts after its lifeline collapsed — a situation that may be increasingly common for banks in distress.