MIDWEST

The stock of South Financial Group Inc. fell sharply Wednesday, after the Greenville, S.C., company reported a $340.8 million third-quarter loss because of loan trouble.

FITCHBURG, Mass. – Workers’ CU is giving its branch in nearby Townsend a green makeover that will include a geothermal heating and cooling system.

President Obama will announce a series of initiatives today aimed at boosting credit to small businesses, an administration official said, as the White House tries to address a complicated issue many believe is a drag on the economy.

After years of idling, Florida Shores Bancorp Inc. is shifting into high gear with a new strategy that reflects changes in the regulatory and economic environment since the company's founding.

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In what it is calling a first step toward replenishing its capital, Mercantile Bancorp Inc. in Quincy, Ill., said it intends to merge its flailing Florida bank with a stronger unit.

Instead of taking a wait-and-see approach, financial institutions should be in the business of connecting with their customers with responsible and transparent communications targeted at a variety of stakeholders, including employees, depositors and other customers.

As other banking companies ready third-quarter results, at least two are being forced by regulators to restate their second-quarter figures, with serious consequences.

Hancock Holding in Gulfport, Miss., has begun a $150 million common stock offering, just after reporting that its third-quarter earnings slipped 4.9% from the year earlier, but rose 10.7% from the second quarter, to $15.2 million.

In reporting third-quarter earnings of $6.9 million, Hudson Valley Holding in Yonkers, N.Y., said a $90 million common stock offering it has in the works was prompted partly by regulators.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Navy FCU plans to open a new branch here today to serve personnel at nearby Fort Belvoir.

This week's special report on facilities delves into a variety of branch management strategies aimed at helping credit unions cut costs while maintaining strong service levels. It also includes a look at how social networking can impact your branches.

If at first you don't succeed, go hostile? That's Porter Bancorp Inc.'s strategy as the $1.7 billion-asset company pursues the $339 million-asset Citizens First Corp. in Bowling Green, Ky.

For more information on this data, visit Novantas LLC and Market Rates Insight.

Regulators have strengthened an order against Second Federal Savings and Loan in Chicago, directing the $251 million-asset thrift to hold more capital than usually expected of institutions.

People's United Financial in Bridgeport, Conn., is close to making an acquisition, Philip Sherringham, its president and CEO, said on an earnings conference call Friday.

SPOKANE, Wash. — Numerica Credit Union here believes it has hit upon the right balance in managing and eve cutting facilities-related expenses and still delivering service that drives growth.

MADISON, Wis. — A physical branch would seem to be the antithesis of social networking applications, yet one new analysis suggests the two can actually go hand in hand.

SEATTLE — Paul Seibert said there are many rational ways to cut costs, but stresses the importance of looking at both the short- and long-term effects. Among his suggestions: