Robert Barba

Still unable to wire their money to family back home, many Somali-Americans in Minnesota recently lined up to withdraw their deposits from U.S. Bancorp (USB) and Wells Fargo (WFC) or have vowed to do so soon.

MetroCorp Bancshares (MCBI) in Houston has commenced a public stock offering to raise $40 million of common equity.

At least two bank advisory firms are structuring pools of nonperforming assets for community banks. The pools give the sellers a better chance of attracting buyers, who generally prefer buying assets in bigger lots.

BancorpSouth in Tupelo, Miss., announced Thursday that its longtime leader Aubrey Patterson plans to relinquish his duties as chief executive in 2013.

Expatriates of Somalia threaten to close their accounts at U.S. Bancorp and Wells Fargo unless the banks wire their money to suffering family members back home. But the big banks, and others in the industry, say federal rules make it too hard to offer the service.

PacWest Bancorp in Los Angeles is attempting a hostile takeover just days after unseating Umpqua Holdings to buy American Perspective Bank. Industry observers say the company's newfound buying aggression might make it a better seller someday and give its PE investors a tidy exit.

The bank, led by ex-Sovereign chief Jay Sidhu, cited uncertain market conditions.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency closed Security Bank in North Lauderdale, Fla., on Friday, bringing the total number of failures so far in 2012 to 23.

Customers Bancorp, led by Jay Sidhu, is set to go public. The one-time Sovereign Bank chief and others say he has learned from the past about how to balance internal growth and acquisitions.

Huntington Bancshares (HBAN) is pairing with a Michigan retailer to substantially expand its presence in the state over the next decade.

Tired of sifting through struggling banks looking for a savior, some aspiring buyers are approaching healthy banks about acquisitions.

Like any self-conscious Chicagoan, Ed Wehmer is hoping his actions – in this case an advertising campaign at Wrigley Field – aren’t perpetuating the Chicago Cubs’ curse.

First Financial in Cincinnati instituted a full pay-out of earnings in August. Although investors were happy with the move, the company has been swarmed with questions over how long it plans to keep the payout. Last week, the company committed to it until the end of 2013.

Christopher Whalen at Tangent Capital is concerned about a component of the initial public offering that lets some existing investors sell their stock.

Prosperity Bancshares in Houston reported first quarter earnings of $36.5 million, up 7.7% from a year earlier as net interest income increased and already low credit costs fell further.

Asset quality might be paramount, but there are other things sellers need to consider as they seek to attract buyers. The list includes avoiding long-term contracts, trimming expenses and retaining key employees.

PrivateBancorp (PVTB) in Chicago reported first-quarter earnings of $10.8 million, up 44% from a year earlier, as credit costs fell and the company collected more fees.

BOK Financial (BOKF) in Tulsa, Okla., reported first quarter earnings of $83.6 million, up from 29% from a year earlier, as credit costs lowered and mortgage banking revenues soared.

Almost three months after spooking investors with plans to restate 2010 and most of 2011, Enterprise Financial Services in St. Louis might be working its way back into their good graces.

The executives of United Western Bank filed a motion for summary judgment that also spares no criticism of how the OTS handled the Denver thrift's failure in early 2011. The motion claims that the now-defunct regulator closed the thrift despite evidence that management had just raised $200 million in life-saving capital.