Hancock Holding Co. in Gulfport, Miss., said Monday that it began a $200 million public offering that would help it redeem an acquisition target's Treasury Department funds.

Centrue Financial Corp. of St. Louis late Friday reported a wider fourth-quarter loss of $39.2 million, largely as a result of a charge from goodwill impairment and a deferred tax asset adjustment.

Data on failed banks sold in the first 10 weeks of the year hints at a broader shift toward buyers going it alone.

Groups affiliated with Gerald J. Ford and Robert M. Bass have agreed to put money into troubled thrift SWS Group in Dallas.

Stonegate Bank in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has completed its acquisition of Southwest Capital Bank of Fort Myers, Fla.

Old Second Bancorp Inc. in Aurora, Ill., said its bank expects further regulatory scrutiny after it was unable to fully comply with a memorandum of understanding.

Sun Bancorp Inc. in Vineland, N.J., should have an additional $70 million of capital in its coffers this week, although the new money will come at a discount.

NASA Federal Credit Union is making arrangements to offer members skip-a-payment loans and other relief in case the continuing budget impasse in Congress causes a federal government shutdown.

Central Bancorp Inc. in Somerville, Mass., has added a banking veteran to its board. Gerald Mulligan will also be a director at Central's unit Central Co-Operative Bank, the $512.3 million-asset company said in a press release Friday.

Macatawa Bank Corp. in Holland, Mich., is asking its shareholders to approve a hefty increase in the number of authorized shares of common stock.

Another banking company is moving forward with raising capital: 1st United Bancorp Inc. in Boca Raton, Fla., announced plans to sell $32.5 million of common stock.

An increasing number of banking companies are exploring ways around a tax code provision that has constricted past capital infusions.

Southern Community Financial Corp. said Thursday that it has formed a small-business division. The Winston-Salem, N.C., company will place a small-business banker in all 22 branches.

United Community Banks Inc. in Blairsville, Ga., is emerging from its credit woes with plans announced late Wednesday to raise $380 million.

Bankers are divided over the seriousness of a provision in the Dodd-Frank Act that would repeal Regulation Q and allow banks to pay rates for demand deposits.

United Community Banks Inc. said late Wednesday that it is raising $380 million through a private placement with an affiliate of Corsair Capital LLC and a group of institutional investors.

A technology subsidiary of the holding company Rurban Financial Corp. must improve its capital position and strengthen operational oversight under a consent order with the Federal Reserve Board.

Rates for deposits have plummeted in recent years in several states that used to be among the hottest for yields in the nation.

A pair of community banks have reduced the Treasury Department's ownership stake in their companies.

Unitus Community Credit Union in Portland, Ore., pledged Tuesday to keep offering free checking and free online services such as bill pay even as many banking companies are starting to charge fees for the services.