G. Kennedy Thompson, a former chairman and chief executive of Wachovia Corp., will join the board of BNC Bancorp in High Point, N.C.

CHELSEA, Mass. – Metro CU, in the process of acquiring nearby University FCU, is opening a new Boston branch next month, representing an expanded presence in the city by the $800 million credit union based in Boston’s working neighborhood of Chelsea.

There are 7,604 banks and thrifts in this country, and the core mission of nearly all of them is to lend locally. As currently structured, however, nearly 40% of these institutions are barred from taking part in the Small Business Lending Fund, the government's latest attempt to stimulate the national economy from the community level on up.

In 26 metropolitan statistical areas, branches accounting for more than 10% of market deposits were operated by institutions that agreed to sell or failed since July 1.

Two companies and three individuals are banned from the mortgage-relief services business and must relinquish $2.2 million in assets for consumer refunds, according to a settlement reached with the Federal Trade Commission.

Preliminary data indicates that C&I lending continued to show strength in the first quarter - but mainly at big banks - while other loan categories remained lifeless.

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State University FCU opened its newest branch in the former Dimitri’s Restaurant building in downtown Lansing last week.

MECHANICSBURG, Penn. – Members 1st FCU on Monday opened a new branch in North Cornwall Township, its second in Lebanon County and one of five the $2 billion plans to open in 2011.

Baltimore County Savings Bank is looking to switch to a Maryland chartered bank from a federal thrift.

First Place Financial Corp. in Warren, Ohio, has deferred payments on its subordinated debt and preferred shares issued to the Treasury Department to save cash and comply with an enforcement action.

Altura Credit Union in Riverside, Calif., which reported a 2010 loss of $5.8 million, said Friday that it is closing four branches and laying off 26 employees, or 11% of its work force.

Norwood Financial Corp. in Honesdale, Pa., has received approval from shareholders of North Penn Bancorp Inc. to buy the Scranton, Pa., company.

Community Bank System Inc. in DeWitt, N.Y., said Monday that it has completed its acquisition of Wilber Corp.

The Federal Reserve on Friday approved an application by China's Bank of Communications Co. to open a branch in San Francisco.

Members 1st Federal Credit Union in Mechanicsburg, Pa., fresh off a trademark infringement claim with a local bank, filed a new lawsuit Friday against Merrick Bank in South Jordan, Utah.

Skeptics have often viewed banks with in-store branches as unconventional. Still, several community banks have tested the strategy and concluded it has untapped potential.

While a slowdown in failures is consistent with an improving economy, and the FDIC says 2010 was a peak year for the recent crisis, many say there are still plenty of failures ahead.

The OCC closed the $187 million-asset Western Springs National Bank and Trust in Illinois Later, state regulators closed the $145 million-asset Nevada Commerce Bank.

WICHITA, Kan. – Mid America CU is building what will be a shared branch in northeast Wichita, a community it abandoned two decades ago when it closed its branch there.

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Altura CU, struggling with a $5.8 million loss last year, announced Friday it is shuttering four branches and laying off 26 employees, 11% of its workforce.