The Federal Trade Commission said Monday it has issued its 33rd annual report to Congress describing the agency’s law enforcement and other efforts to protect consumers from unfair, deceptive and abusive debt collection practices.

Encore Capital Group Inc., a consumer debt buyer, unveiled Monday a "Consumer Bill of Rights" - a document to "codify the company's commitment to conduct business ethically, engage in respectful and constructive dialogue with consumers, and play a positive role in consumers' financial recovery."

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

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State University FCU opened a new branch last week with the help of local tax breaks at the former Dimitri’s Restaurant in nearby Lansing.

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Navy FCU is negotiating to purchase 240 acres at Escambia County’s 4-H Center which would be used to expand the credit union’s massive 52-acre call center, the biggest credit union facility in the world.

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.

West Asset Management Inc., the debt collection unit of West Corp., has agreed to pay $2.8 million to settle charges it used aggressive collection methods that violated federal law, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The civil penalty is the largest obtained by the FTC in a collection case.

SUITLAND, Md. – Andrews FCU will open a new branch in the town of Waldorf on March 30, which will be the eighth U.S. branch for the $810 million credit union.

RALEIGH, N.C. – And on the seventh day Coastal FCU was open for business and offered teller hours.

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.