Cap Markets

First Partners Bank in Birmingham, Ala., and Highlands Bancorp in Vernon, N.J., have both issued subordinated debt, as part of their plans to exit the Small Business Lending Fund program.

Allegiance Bancshares expects to raise about $54.6 million in its initial public offering, as the Houston company priced the offering more than two years after expressing interest in going public.

The $1.5 billion-asset bank issued $25 million of subordinated notes due 2025 in a private placement. WashingtonFirst used the proceeds to redeem $8.9 million in SBLF preferred shares, which it issued to the Treasury Department in 2011.

From "too big to fail" to Glass-Steagall, the two leaders of the postcrisis recovery hashed out the economic issues, while pitching Bernanke's new book.

Emclaire Financial in Emlenton, Pa., has exited the Small Business Lending Fund.

Community West Bancshares in Goleta, Calif., has received regulatory approval to exit the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Nicolet Bankshares in Green Bay, Wis., has redeemed about half of its outstanding preferred stock in the Small Business Lending Fund.

1st Century Bancshares in Los Angeles has filed plans to raise $30 million through a sale of common stock.

Porter Bancorp in Louisville, Ky., has Edmond Seifried to its board. Seifried, 68, is executive director of the Sheshunoff Affiliation Program, which provides education and an idea exchange to community bankers.

While banks have significantly decreased their problem assets from their 2010 peak, sour credits remain much higher than in 2006. A number of banks have been reluctant to sell these assets because of low interest rates and a struggle to find better investments.