Meta Financial Group Inc. in Storm Lake, Iowa, has agreed to sell its smallest subsidiary, the $39 million-asset MetBank West Central, to Anita Bancorp. in Atlantic, Iowa, for $8.3 million in stock.

Century Bank in Parma, Ohio, has agreed to acquire Liberty Bank in Beachwood for $35.9 million in cash and stock and intends to go public to fund the deal.

First Financial Northwest Inc. of Renton, Wash., intends to increase its loan-loss provision by $4.5 million this quarter, because of problem residential construction loans.

Susquehanna Bancshares Inc. in Lititz, Pa., said in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing Friday that it expects its loan losses to rise in the fourth quarter and that it will boost its loss provision by $11.1 million.

TierOne Corp. shareholders approved an agreement late Thursday to sell the Lincoln, Neb., company, despite opposition from its largest shareholder.

Seven years after selling its U.S. banking arm to one Dutch company, National Australia Bank Ltd. is returning with what looks like a page from another Dutch lender's playbook.

Efforts to improve financial options for the unbanked are getting a boost from local and state governments.

The Bankers Bank in Atlanta has outgrown its name.

The Chicago private-equity firm GTCR Golder Rauner LLC has pledged to invest $100 million in another Chicago company, PrivateBancorp Inc., to help it expand.

TierOne Corp. shareholders are to vote today on a proposed acquisition by a Maryland real estate investment trust, and indications are that the vote could be close.

Regulators have postponed approval of Washington Federal Savings Inc.'s deal to buy a nearby thrift, because of unresolved compliance issues at the Seattle buyer.

MIDWEST

First Financial Northwest Inc. of Renton, Wash., said Wednesday that it would increase its loan-loss provision by $4.5 million this quarter, because of problem residential construction loans.

Century Bank in Parma, Ohio, plans to acquire Liberty Bank in Beachwood for $35.9 million in cash and stock and intends to go public to fund the deal.

Since Capital One Financial Corp. began issuing a third-party debit card in May, community bankers have feared losing lucrative debit-related business to the McLean, Va., company while fretting that they would be the ones fielding angry phone calls from customers should problems arise with their Capital One cards.

Summit Financial Group Inc. in Moorefield, W.Va., has moved to settle a trade secret claim made by Corinthian Mortgage Corp. by signing a letter of intent to negotiate the purchase of Corinthian's parent, Commonwealth Savingshares Corp., for $52.5 million in cash and stock.

Click here to view the 150 community banks with the largest portfolios of home equity loans.

Premier Financial Bancorp Inc. in Huntington, W.Va., announced Tuesday that it plans to buy the $106 million-asset Traders Bankshares Inc. in Spencer, W.Va., for about $18.1 million in cash and stock.