Many banking companies in need of capital this year have struggled to raise it.

Pacific Mercantile Bancorp in Costa Mesa, Calif., said Monday that it lost $830,000 in the second quarter on an eightfold increase, to $2.7 million, in its provision for losses on residential construction loans.

GERMANTOWN, Md. – Montgomery County Employees FCU yesterday moved its offices from the Washington suburb of Rockville, Md., to nearby Germantown.

Losses from bad loans to developers continue to mount for 1st Centennial Bancorp in Redlands, Calif.

To the Editor:

Now that a group of dissidents has won control of Vineyard National Bancorp's board, the question on Wall Street's mind is whether the dissidents can raise additional capital where the previous board could not.

Activist shareholder Joseph Stilwell often battles with thrifts in which he invests, and now he is taking on the Office of Thrift Supervision itself.

Patriot National Bancorp Inc. in Stamford, Conn., said Thursday that its second-quarter profit fell 26% from a year earlier, to $396,000, as declining property values and weak home sales in its market area forced it boost to its loan-loss provision.

Solera National Bank in Lakewood, Colo., is hoping it can serve predominantly Hispanic consumers and businesses without having to broaden its focus.

Saehan Bancorp in Los Angeles said Thursday that it lost $1.6 million in the second quarter and that it slashed its work force by nearly 10% in July to save costs.

Having lost money in six consecutive quarters, Irwin Financial Corp. of Columbus, Ind., has a simple plan for becoming profitable again: Exit the national home equity lending and small-ticket leasing businesses, and focus on small-business and consumer banking in its local communities.

Vineyard National Bancorp of Corona, Calif., said Wednesday that it lost $62.5 million in the second quarter, after recording a $20.3 million provision for its deferred tax asset and a $40.5 million provision for losses on residential construction loans.

AUSTIN — Texas banks are starting to feel the ripple effects of the nation's economic downturn.

FirstFed Financial Corp. in Los Angeles said Wednesday that it lost $35.5 million in the second quarter after it recorded a $90.2 million provision for losses on option adjustable-rate mortgages. It reported a profit of $29.1 million for last year's second quarter.

Two small New Jersey start-ups have agreed to a merger of equals.

NEW ENGLAND

BETHPAGE, N.Y. – Bethpage FCU, which has added 13 new branches over the past four years, is working to create a standardized branch to reflect the credit union’s slogan, “Banking among friends.”