The state's banking market is still seriously impaired, but foreign banks are increasingly attracted to it for the same reason — and their arrival may feed the turnaround.

The Federal Trade Commission filed an amicus brief in federal court opposing a class-action settlement that would require consumers to surrender protections provided by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and state laws in exchange for minimal payments.

First PacTrust Bancorp Inc. in Chula Vista, Calif., is looking to raise up to $30 million in fresh capital that it could use to support its growth.

Rejected by the Office of Thrift Supervision in its bid to become a 100% stock-owned company, New Jersey mutual holding company Clifton Savings Bancorp is taking its chances with its new regulator, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

MAPLE GROVE, Minn. – TopLine FCU said yesterday it joined the MoneyPass surcharge-free ATM network.

First Financial Holdings Inc. in Charleston, S.C., has agreed to buy five South Carolina branches from Liberty Savings Bank. The $3.3 billion-asset First Financial will buy $109.5 million in deposits and $27 million in performing loans as part of the deal.

Teche Holding Co. in New Iberia, La., said Wednesday that it has completed the charter conversion for Teche Federal Bank. The $782 million-asset company switched its unit to a state bank from a federally chartered thrift in a move that will reduce the company's regulatory fees by $100,000 annually.

Anchor Commercial Bank in Juno Beach, Fla., is close to raising $20 million in capital from a group of South Florida investors.

Western Liberty Bancorp Inc. in Las Vegas has hired Sandler O'Neil & Partners LP to search for strategic alternatives, including a possible sale, just eight after the special-purpose acquisition company completed its first bank acquisition.

A federal court banned three men and their company from the mortgage modification business and ordered them to pay nearly $19 million for consumer refunds, according to terms of a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission.

Porter Bancorp Inc. was able to avoid trouble during the darkest days of the recession, only to show up on its regulator's radar screen as many other banks are recovering.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Construction at the new Lake Trust CU branch is set to begin today with the demolition of the former Fidelity Bank building.

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Police are searching for a Kentucky Employees CU ATM that was stolen from a parking lot early Tuesday morning using a backhoe.

HOUSTON – Cardtronics, the nation’s biggest provider of ATM services and a key credit union partner, said yesterday it has agreed to acquire the ATM subsidiary of Efmark Deployment and its 3,700 cash machines in the Midwest and Great Lakes region, doubling its ATM placements in multiple states.

The Federal Reserve said Tuesday that it had approved the sale of Centra Financial Holdings Inc. in Morganton, W.Va., to United Bankshares Inc. in Charleston, W.Va.

VSoft Corp. said Tuesday that Park Community Credit Union would use its technology for item capture in its branches.

Provident Financial Holdings Inc. in Riverside, Calif., is back in good standing with its regulator.

A California community bank will be among first financial institutions to participate in the government's $30 billion small-business loan program.

Stacy L. Moran has resigned as chief financial officer at Suffolk Bancorp, just weeks after the Riverhead, N.Y., company announced that it may have to restate earnings for several quarters.

The $14 billion-asset Susquehanna said late Monday that it would pay $343 million for the $2.6 billion-asset Tower.