When a current or prospective customer phones your business, what are the odds that good will is being created?

First United Bancorp Inc. of Boca Raton, Fla., has a deal to buy the $194 million-asset Equitable Financial Group Inc. in Fort Lauderdale for $55.6 million in cash and stock, according to the investment bank Carson Medlin Co.

First Defiance Financial Corp. of Ohio plans to enter Michigan by acquiring the $291 million-asset Pavilion Bancorp Inc. of Adrian for $55.7 million in cash and stock.

Community bankers in Tennessee are lining up to invest in a new program designed to spark economic activity and job creation in underserved rural communities there.

FORT WORTH — Comptroller of the Currency John Dugan urged Texas banks with high concentrations of commercial real estate and construction loans on their books to build up their loan-loss reserves.

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Security Bank Corp. expects to record a loan loss provision of $16 million to $20 million for the rest of the year, due to declines in the residential real estate market. The Macon, Ga., bank holding company is still evaluating how much of the provision should be set aside for the third quarter. Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans are expected to increase to 75 to 85 basis points, compared with the company's previous forecast of 20 basis points. The increase is related to fewer loans, mostly in the Atlanta region. If the North Atlanta markets remain soft, Security Bank's loan growth for the rest of the year may fall below previous estimates of 10% to 12%.

With Small Business Administration loans fetching less on the secondary market than they once did, Unity Bancorp Inc. in Clinton, N.J., has decided that retaining the loans is a better strategy these days than selling them.

Manhattan Bancorp in Los Angeles, which opened for business Aug. 15, announced that it has completed its initial public offering and that it raised $24.9 million.

Beneficial Mutual Bancorp Inc. in Philadelphia said Tuesday that it has asked the Office of Thrift Supervision for permission to buy back up to 5% of its stock.

Arizona has become a new hotbed of banking, and one startup is making a name for itself with one-of-a-kind customer service. While most community banks tout their personalized service as a refreshing change from that of the big banks, Scottsdale-based Goldwater Bank has adopted the strategy to such a level that other industry players wonder whether it's straying from the very essence of what a bank should do.

A sense of complacency arose recently as banks were blindsided by increased default levels after exposure to subprime loans. Here's how to make sure it doesn't happen again.

A piggybacked, zero-down, delayed interest loan is a bad loan for anybody, but now big banks see opportunity in the turmoil.

Goldman taps the capital markets to pay for children's vaccinations.

Building loyalty among small-business customers has long been a struggle, but some banks say they've found the answer.

Willow Financial Bancorp Inc. in Wayne, Pa., said Monday that it cut previously reported earnings for its 2007 fiscal year by 10%, to $8.4 million, after discovering material weaknesses in its internal controls.

Franklin Bank Corp. in Houston is at a crossroads.

Provident Bankshares Corp. said Tuesday that its unit Provident Bank will provide for a $4.1 million reserve from third-quarter earnings in connection with a non-accrual status loan.

Great Lakes Bancorp Inc. said Monday it has stopped mortgage banking activities in Buffalo and Long Island, N.Y., and is no longer accepting residential mortgage applications.