CapitalSource Inc. enjoys a tax advantage as a real estate investment trust, but it is willing to give that up to accelerate loan growth, lower its funding costs, and gain access to a larger infusion of government capital.

NEW ENGLAND

Green Bankshares Inc. in Greeneville, Tenn., is warning that it expects to report a fourth-quarter loss of up to $16 million because of deteriorating credit quality.

A conversation with a banker last month reminded me of some of my discussions long ago with one of my first banking mentors.

First Financial Bancorp in Cincinnati said late Tuesday that it expects to report increases in net chargeoffs and past-due loans when it releases its fourth-quarter and full-year results next month.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. issued cease-desist-orders against eight state-chartered banks and thrifts in November, including one, the $5 billion-asset Franklin Bank in Houston, that has already failed.

Pacific State Bancorp said Tuesday that Steven A. Rosso has resigned as its chief executive officer and the president of its Pacific State Bank.

Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corp. in New Jersey announced after the market closed Tuesday that it will likely take an other-than-temporary impairment charge for the fourth quarter on its portfolio of trust-preferred pooled securities.

Under orders from its regulator to increase capital by the end of next quarter, Seacoast National Bank in Stuart, Fla., is getting a boost from the Treasury Department.

With bad loans mounting, Freedom Bancshares Inc. in Commerce, Ga., has hired an investment banker to review its strategic options, and its bank has received a cease-and-desist order from the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance.

Mid Penn Bank in Millersburg, Pa., warned Monday that it expects to record two hefty fourth-quarter expenses: a $700,000 provision for loan losses and a $478,000 severance payment for its former chief executive officer.

Troubled or start-up banks that need a capital infusion should not bother calling Patriot Financial Partners LP in Philadelphia.

A Houston start-up bank is getting into the mortgage warehouse business, and some consultants are advising other community banks to consider doing the same.

For banks awaiting word on whether they are eligible for capital infusions from the Treasury Department, approval may hinge on whether they can raise money on their own first.

The Federal Reserve Board on Monday announced written agreements putting clamps on three community banks: Michigan Heritage Bank, Birthright Inc., and Cherokee Bancshares Inc.

Chemung Financial Corp. in Elmira, N.Y., aims to expand into Pennsylvania with a deal to for the $80 million-asset Canton Bancorp Inc.

A Chicago banking company that had been considering selling itself is off the block.

Investor demand for pooled trust-preferred securities may be dead, but the market for trust-preferreds issued by individual banks is making a comeback.

One of the main lessons learned from the current crisis is that not all investments, whether collateralized debt or mortgage obligations, are what they appear, despite claims and even ratings by a third party.