As the frontrunners in Florida's gubernatorial race debate who should regulate rogue collection agencies - each arguing the other failed to police the industry as required by their current political roles - the collection industry will closely track developments in the race leading up to the November election.

If you think the FBOP story was interesting ["Legislators Call FDIC Too Hasty in FBOP Closure," Jan. 22], you should look into the failure of a true community bank, Peoples First Community Bank in Panama City, Fla.

Bank start-ups slowed to a trickle last year, and, if recent history is a guide, it could be a while before they pick up again.

The Federal Reserve said Monday that it has ordered Cornerstone Bancshares Inc. of Overland Park, Kan., to submit plans to strengthen its credit risk management and improve its capital position, earnings and budgeting.

Bank of Hawaii Corp. in Honolulu said Monday that its fourth-quarter earnings rose 3% from a year earlier, to $40.5 million as growth in noninterest income was offset by higher credit costs and a lower margin.

After nearly two years of rapid asset growth, PrivateBancorp Inc. in Chicago is expected to have a much slower 2010 as it gets its financial house in order.

Regulators may be more open to selling failed banks to nontraditional owners — or maybe there are just fewer buyers.

F.N.B. Corp. swung to a fourth-quarter profit as the financial-services company rebounded from prior-year investment write-downs and loan losses.

VANCOUVER, Wash. – TwinStar CU said it plans to combine two of its local branches into a facility it bought last month from First Independent Bank in the Vancouver Mall.

West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw sued credit card issuer Capital One Bank and four other companies for deceptive, unfair and "unconscionable conduct in connection with their credit card lending and collection practices," according to his office's Consumer Protection Division.

Midwest Banc Holdings Inc. has won one round in its battle for recapitalization. The $3.5 billion-asset company in Melrose Park, Ill., announced Friday that it persuaded 82% of its Series A preferred shareholders to convert to common shareholders.

DFCU Financial, Michigan's largest CU, gave its members what it is calling its own economic stimulus earlier this month — a credit union-record $19 million special dividend.

Prosperity Bancshares Inc. in Houston beat analysts' estimates for its fourth-quarter earnings.

Superior Bancorp in Birmingham, Ala., has taken another step in its efforts to improve its capital position.

Following a regulatory exam, Sterling Banks Inc. in Mount Laurel, N.J., said it will restate its results for the second and third quarters of 2009.

Maryland regulators, in the wake of collection law firm Mann Bracken LLP's closing, mailed letters to 1,400 licensed collection agencies in the state this week, instructing them to help connect debtors with the companies they owe.

The Federal Reserve said Thursday it has taken enforcement action against California's Tamalpais Bancorp in an effort to ensure that it maintains sufficient capital.

WASHINGTON — In an unusual congressional hearing, regulators were essentially put on trial Thursday for having closed a Chicago-based chain of community banks last fall.

SOUTHEAST

Sterling Bancshares Inc. in Houston reported Thursday that it returned to profitability in the fourth quarter, after a sharp loss in the third quarter.