As part of its continued restructuring, First Financial Bancorp in Hamilton, Ohio, has struck deals to sell five of its branches in central Indiana and Michigan.

With its latest and biggest deal, First Community Bancorp in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., would fill a critical void in its southern California operations.

A week after reporting a first-quarter profit of $71,000, Bank Holdings in Reno said it lost $24,000 that quarter.

The Texas Bankers Association has a deal to absorb the small Texas Savings and Community Bankers Association, which represents thrifts.

As a Who's Who of Texas bankers walked by her booth last week at the Texas Bankers Association's annual conference in Grapevine, Leilani Lim explained why her new role as the financial education coordinator for the state Banking Department is a perfect fit.

President Bush's plan to raise fees on government-guaranteed farm loans has hit a roadblock in Congress.

Kentucky bankers are fuming over a new law that requires banks to help keep track of delinquent taxpayers, and banks there are suing to overturn it.

MIDDLE ATLANTIC

Six months into its Florida comeback, F.N.B. Corp. of Hermitage, Pa., is enjoying such strong loan growth in the state that it is considering further expansion.

Ending a five-year dispute, PSB Bancorp Inc. in Philadelphia has agreed to pay $9.65 million to settle a number of shareholder lawsuits over stock options.

In what may be the largest loan syndication ever by number of lenders, 101 community banks are financing a $118.5 million commercial real estate project in Kansas City, Mo.

First Banks Inc. of St. Louis announced Wednesday that it had agreed to buy San Diego Community Bank of Chula Vista, Calif., for $25.5 million in cash.

Sterling Bancorp in New York is counting on high-rate loans and cross-sales to rev up earnings dampened by tight margins, high expenses, and flat fee income.

Hundreds of community banks and thrifts that were among the first to sell trust-preferred securities through investment pools could soon be looking to refinance.

Heartland Financial USA Inc. of Dubuque, Iowa, has lowered its first-quarter earnings by $1.2 million, to $4.5 million.

Colorado lawmakers have approved the creation of a statewide identity theft task force that would include bankers.

NBC Capital Corp. in Starkville, Miss., said Thursday that it plans to raise about $46.8 million in a public offering.

A traditional Texas bank's experiment in automated banking is showing signs of promise.