VANCOUVER, Wash. — Earth-loving credit unions, those that invest in environmentally friendly branch design, are much more likely today to have the Earth love them back.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Community First CU of Florida received the 2008 Environmental Protection Board Award from the city of Jacksonville for having the first CU location in northeast Florida to be LEED certified.

Shore Bancshares Inc. of Easton, Md., returned its government capital this week.

Umpqua Holdings Corp. of Portland, Ore., announced Thursday that it lost $13.8 million, or 23 cents a share, in the first quarter, as chargeoffs spiked.

Citing elevated credit costs, Washington Federal Inc. in Seattle said late Friday that profits fell 76% from a year earlier, to $8.4 million, in its fiscal second quarter, which ended March 31.

Midwest Banc Holdings Inc. of Melrose Park, Ill., is looking for a buyer and a new chief executive officer.

In today's market, more banking companies may bite the bullet and sell favored, profitable side businesses to raise cash quickly.

Beverly Hills Bancorp Inc. of Calabasas, Calif., is back to looking for a buyer, with no prospects in sight.

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Pinnacle CU, the oldest credit union in the city, is holding a ribbon cutting April 23 to celebrate the grand re-opening of its West Jefferson branch lobby, which has been recently renovated.

YAKIMA, Wash. – Catholic CU said it is opening a branch in the new Wal-Mart Supercenter.

DENVER – Public Service CU announced yesterday it has opened branches in the suburbs of Greeley and Brighton, where it just acquired Brighton Cooperative FCU.

Citing trouble with its residential construction loans, State Bancorp Inc. in Jericho, N.Y., said Wednesday that it swung to a $5.1 million loss in the first quarter, from a $3 million profit a year earlier.

In the last few years Southern Bancorp Inc. in Arkadelphia, Ark., looked at potential acquisitions around its home state, but until recently it had not found a fit.

LEOMINSTER, Mass. – Leominster CU broke ground this week on a three-story, 28,500 expansion of its headquarters in the downtown.

PHOENIX – Arizona FCU, which reported a credit union-record $115.9 loss last year, said it plans to shutter two more branches, both of them in Tucson.

Crescent Banking Co. in Jasper, Ga., is in danger of failing since a deal to get $27.2 million of capital from its management and directors fell through.

Clarification: David F. Bolger owns 12.3% of Cascade Bancorp. The figure counted only his personal holdings. Including shares held by companies he controls, the stake is 28.8%, and it would rise to 50% as a result of the proposed investment.

On the heels of a 20% jump in its first-quarter earnings from a year earlier, to $9.3 million, Bank of the Ozarks Inc. said it is considering returning the funds it received from the Treasury Department's Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Among the troubled sectors of the American economy, banks have taken center stage.

FAIRFAX, Va. – Apple FCU opened a new branch, its fourth over the past year, in the Kingstowne section of Alexandria.