Superior Bancorp in Birmingham, Ala., said Tuesday that it swung to a fourth-quarter loss of $11.5 million, from a $1.1 million profit a year earlier.

First Defiance Financial Corp. in Ohio has revised its fourth-quarter earnings.

Flagstar Bancorp Inc. in Troy, Mich., came up nearly $200 million shy of its capital-raising goal in a rights offering that expired Monday.

In this age of record bank failures, the deposit/loan model should be shelved for good. Success lies in delivering a wider array of financial services to gain a stronger client bond.

Debt buyer Asta Funding Inc. today reported a net income of $2.5 million for its fiscal first quarter ended Dec. 31, compared to a net loss of $7.8 million in the same period a year earlier. The company, based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., buys unpaid consumer and credit card loans and tries to collect them.

Three leaders of a Western New York collections operation under investigation for illegal collection practices, including impersonating law enforcement, have been banned from future involvement in the industry, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's office said today.

Hanmi Financial Corp. announced Monday that it has hired the investment bank Cappello Capital Corp. to explore strategic alternatives to satisfy regulators.

Although its thrift unit remains undercapitalized, Anchor BanCorp Wisconsin Inc. in Madison reported improved results for its most recent quarter.

Encore Capital Group Inc. today reported fourth-quarter net income of $8.4 million compared to a net loss of $2.1 million in the same period a year ago. For the full year 2009, the company reported net income of $33 million, up from $13.8 million in 2008.

WEST SENECA, N.Y. – Western New York FCU yesterday said it has joined the state’s Universal Share Network shared branch system as an issuer.

ALTUS, Okla. – Red River FCU said it will build its new corporate headquarters on five acres at University Avenue and Gibson Lane that will house administrative departments and staff, such as human resources, training, marketing and student services.

The Obama administration has pledged $30 billion to help community banks boost small-business lending. That has led to a big debate centering on one issue: Should strugglers be eligible?

Prosperity Bancshares Inc. in Houston announced Monday that it would acquire the 19 branches, including deposits of $500 million and assets of $100 million, from First Banks for a 5.5% deposit premium, or $27.5 million.

An estimated 712 different collection agencies and creditors are named in 851 consumer statute lawsuits filed nationwide in January, according to data from U.S. District Court complaint dockets. The monthly total includes 716 cases citing violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), up from 551 in January 2009. The number of Fair Credit Reporting Act lawsuits actually dropped last month, to 77 from 109 cases in January 2009.

Debt buying and collection industry leaders have aggressively lobbied lawmakers to nix - or at least revamp - the Consumer Financial Protection Agency blueprint, which would consolidate financial industry oversight.

SEATTLE – BECU last week held a grand opening for its newest branch, which is in the underserved neighborhood of Lower Queen Anne.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Charlotte Metro CU has agreed to acquire one of the three local branches being closed by Coastal FCU in the University area.

WASHINGTON — President Obama on Friday said he wants to expand Small Business Administration guarantees to commercial real estate loans.

Senate Banking Committee leaders said Friday that negotiations on a regulatory reform bill had reached an impasse. We offer the following FAQ about what is really going on.

The FDIC said Community Development Bank would take over operations of 1st American State Bank, which late Friday became the third institution closed in Minnesota this year.