Capital is king these days, and community banks that either cannot or do not want to raise it are focused on preserving what they have.

First Financial Bankshares Inc. in Abilene, Tex., announced Thursday that its second-quarter earnings grew 2.5%, to $13.6 million, from the year earlier.

CVB Financial Corp.'s stock soared Thursday after the Ontario, Calif., company reported second-quarter earnings that beat the average estimate of analysts by 2 cents.

Thirty-five years ago, when redlining was rampant, the Federal Reserve Board put in place a sweeping anti-discrimination regulation (Reg B) that prevented banks from identifying small-business borrowers by race, ethnicity, and gender.

Virginia Commerce Bancorp Inc. in Arlington said Thursday that its second-quarter earnings fell 28.5% from a year earlier, to $4.9 million, as it continued to struggle with the deteriorating quality of loans tied to residential construction.

UMB Financial Corp. in Kansas City, Mo., said its UMB Bank Colorado would buy the $89 million-asset Citadel Bank in Colorado Springs.

While several competitors have been concentrating on cleaning up loan portfolios, Great Florida Bank in Coral Gables has been busy opening branches.

S.Y. Bancorp Inc. in Louisville said Wednesday that its second-quarter earnings fell 3% from a year earlier, to $6.1 million. Earnings per share rose 2 cents, to 45 cents — an increase the $1.6 billion-asset company attributed to an aggressive stock repurchase program.

Texas Capital Bancshares Inc. in Dallas said Wednesday that its second-quarter earnings fell 31% from a year earlier, to $5.8 million, or 22 cents a share.

The leadership of the House Financial Services Committee has asked the Farm Credit Administration to withdraw a proposal that would give Farm Credit System lenders more authority to finance nonfarm projects, such as hotels and hospitals.

First Midwest Bancorp Inc. of Itasca, Ill., said its second-quarter earnings dropped 8% from a year earlier, to $27 million.

SOUTHEAST

Valley National Bancorp's stock shot up Wednesday after the Wayne, N.J., company reported that second-quarter net income increased 4.5% from a year earlier, to $41.5 million.

Arrow Financial Corp. in Glen Falls, N.Y., said Tuesday that a higher net interest margin boosted its second-quarter net income 29% from a year earlier, to $5.4 million.

Since hiring Derrick D. Cephas as president and chief executive officer in January 2006, Amalgamated Bank in New York has been undergoing a transformation.

Shares of Guaranty Financial Group Inc. plunged 12% Tuesday, to $3.59, after the Austin company said it was extending the deadline for its rights offering.

Westamerica Bancorp in San Rafael, Calif., said Tuesday that its second-quarter earnings fell 45% from a year earlier, to $12.2 million, mainly as a result of a $18.2 million impairment charge related to its preferred shares of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.