Anchor Bancorp in Aberdeen, Wash., launched a syndicated community offering Wednesday to complete its conversion to a stock company from a mutual.

Atlantic Coast Federal Corp. in Waycross, Ga., said it expects to report a fourth-quarter loss of up to $5.5 million.

Bank of Commerce in Chalotte, N.C., on Tuesday reported a loss of $1.3 million for the fourth quarter.

California General Bank in Pasadena has completed its purchase of Professional Business Bank, the companies said Tuesday.

Republic Bancorp in Louisville, Ky., plans to enter warehouse lending by the second quarter after hiring a top executive from National City Corp.

Vibra Bank in Chula Vista, Calif., on Tuesday reported a fourth-quarter profit of $51,000 as it reached its second year in business.

Sterling Bancshares Inc. in Houston is said to be shopping itself as it prepares for a hostile board takeover proposed by Don Adam, its biggest shareholder.

Midwest banks have long been enamored with growth in sunny locations, but Enterprise Financial Services Corp. is using government-backed deals with loss-sharing agreements as protection.

Commercial banks rarely asked a customer to leave if the profitability of the account was underwater. Those days are gone. Capital is scarce, and every penny must be put to work.

The mergers and acquisitions revival in banking is likely to increase chief executive turnover. But putting more senior bankers on the streets won't necessarily help institutions that have been struggling to recruit leaders.

As directors and officers of failed banks brace for FDIC lawsuits, an intense legal battle is developing over accessing files at their former institutions.

National Penn Bancshares Inc. in Boyertown, Pa., has announced the completion of a $150 million recapitalization with the private-equity firm Warburg Pincus.

Credit unions are being advised to pursue lending to credit-challenged members to boost loan growth.

A pair of banking companies have extended their deadlines for rights offerings due to technical difficulties.

As the epicenter of bank failures in 2010, Florida gave 2011 its first casualty. Florida was home to 18% of the 157 failures last year, with 29. Following a two-week hiatus, two banks failed on the first Friday of the new year.

First Citizens BancShares in Raleigh, N.C., has finally combined its two main subsidiaries. The $21 billion-asset company said IronStone Bank, its thrift, merged into First Citizens Bank, a state-chartered bank, on Friday.

As the epicenter of bank failures in 2010, Florida gave 2011 its first casualty. Florida was home to 18% of the 157 failures last year, with 29. Following a two-week hiatus, two banks failed on the first Friday of the new year.

WASHINGTON — Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke on Friday reiterated the importance of community banks to the economy and the need to ensure regulatory burdens faced by small banks are minimized.