NEW ENGLAND

Rep. Nydia Velazquez has long been advocating for change at the Small Business Administration, and as the incoming chairwoman of the House Small Business Committee, she is now in better position to make them.

BankAtlantic Bancorp. president Jarett S. Levan made clear Wednesday that his company would not change its aggressive expansion strategy, despite slower deposit growth at the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., banking company.

The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court has overturned a broad community charter granted last year to a Harrisburg credit union and ordered the state Department of Banking to reexamine its decision.

Hancock Holding Co. in Gulfport, Miss., lost out on a bid to buy a cluster of branches in Alabama but could still be in position to scoop up market share there, analysts say.

First Fidelity Bancorp in Oklahoma City said Monday that it has a deal to buy the $196 million-asset Western Security Holding Co. in Scottsdale, Ariz.; the price was not disclosed.

Randolph Savings Bank in Randolph, Mass., will not merge with Bristol County Savings Bank in Taunton, Mass., after all, according to a report Monday.

Enterprise Financial Services Corp. in St. Louis has agreed to buy Clayco Banc Corp. of De Soto, Kan., for $37 million in cash and stock.

Dukes County Savings Bank in Edgartown, Mass., has expanded its loan portfolio 49% in the last two years, to $182 million as of Oct. 31, largely through significant increases in home equity and business loans.

Barrington Bank and Trust Co. in Illinois is the latest bank to launch a private banking program aimed at doctors.

Flagstar Bancorp Inc. in Troy, Mich., said it would take an $8.7 million pretax charge in the fourth quarter because it lost a lawsuit over insurance coverage.

Cathay General Bancorp in Los Angeles, which won a bidding battle this year for a New York bank that caters to Chinese-Americans, has now made a deal for a New Jersey bank with the same focus.

New England Bancshares Inc. in Enfield, Conn., said it had agreed to buy First Valley Bancorp Inc. in Bristol, Conn., for $25.9 million in stock and cash.

Mercantile Bancorp Inc.'s incoming chief executive sees variety as the key for the Quincy, Ill., company as it tries to double its assets over the next five years.

Stifel Financial Corp., a St. Louis investment banking company, has agreed to buy First Service Financial Co., a St. Louis commercial banking company, for $38 million in cash.

ShoreBank Corp. in Chicago is considering going public in the future so it can raise more money now.

WASHINGTON - America's Community Bankers is partnering with Independent BankersBank in Irving, Tex., on a program that would let many of the group's member banks offer credit cards to consumers and business owners.