Regulators Friday closed the $231 million-asset Oglethorpe Bank in Brunswick, Ga., the third failed institution in 2011.

For the first time in years, there is some optimism about community banks' results ahead of the quarterly reporting season.

SI Financial Group Inc. in Willimantic, Conn., said late Wednesday that it had completed its conversion to a stock holding company from a mutual holding company.

Eureka Financial Corp. in Pittsburgh said Thursday that it had received conditional approval from its regulator to finish converting to a stock company from a mutual holding company.

Washington Federal Inc. in Seattle said Thursday that fourth-quarter net income more than tripled to $24.5 million from $7.9 million a year earlier.

Commerce Bancshares Inc. in Kansas City, Mo., on Thursday reported fourth-quarter net income rose 25% from a year earlier, fueled by fee income.

Investors hoping that dividend increases expected at large banks will trickle down to community banks are probably out of luck.

A total of 3,825,637 foreclosure filings — including default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions — were reported on a record 2,871,891 U.S. properties in 2010, an increase of nearly 2% from 2009 and an increase of 23% from 2008, according to RealtyTrac, an online marketplace for foreclosure properties, in its Year-End 2010 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report released Thursday.

U.S. consumers' average credit scores slipped one point in the past year, and credit card debt fell by 8% to $7,404 during the same period, according to data released by Credit Karma on Wednesday.

The Treasury Department announced Wednesday that two financial companies have repaid funds they received in the government's banking bailout.

SAN DIEGO – North Island Financial CU said yesterday it signed with Diebold to deploy 26 Opteva ATMs.

Though it's the big banks that are working with energy companies, smaller institutions still expect huge opportunities, some risks aside, to serve ancillary businesses and consumers.

American 1 Federal Credit Union has become the first business to take advantage of tax abatements offered to companies located within commercial rehabilitation districts in Hillsdale, Mich.

Taylor Capital Group Inc. in Rosemont, Ill., is positioning itself to raise more capital. The $4.6 billion-asset company filed a shelf registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday to raise as much as $175 million.

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.