BankWest in Castle Rock, Colo., did not grow much in its first five years, and investors were getting restless.

A small Utah bank is in the process of becoming the first established bank to convert to a limited liability company, but whether it will get the tax benefits that accompany that status remains to be seen.

Financial Institutions Inc. of Warsaw, N.Y., said it would halve its second-quarter dividend, to 8 cents a share.

MetroCorp Bancshares Inc. of Houston said Wednesday that it is buying a two-branch Asian-American bank in San Diego for $37.4 million in cash.

Main Street Banks Inc. said Wednesday that it would charge off $2.6 million of problem loans this quarter, resulting in a 30% to 36% drop in its projected second-quarter earnings per share.

Gold Banc Corp. of Leawood, Kan., announced that a lawsuit accusing it of charging too much for agricultural loans has been made a class action by a court order.

MIDWEST

Monarch Bank of Chesapeake, Va., has raised $6.5 million in a stock offering and said it would use the proceeds to open a new branch and raise its legal lending limit.

First Charter Corp. of Charlotte announced Tuesday that it will soon open its first full-service branch in Raleigh.

Lawmakers and banking trade groups say community banks might abandon the Small Business Administration's flagship 7(a) lending program in droves if the agency follows through on plans to eliminate a popular program that provides lenders with a streamlined approval process and enhanced guarantees on small loans.

NSB Holding Corp. in Staten Island, N.Y., announced that Liberty Bank will begin operating as Northfield Savings Bank.

A group opposing the National Credit Union Administration's recent crackdown on conversions to mutual savings banks is lobbying Congress for more supervision of the regulator.

After a dozen years as a subsidiary of a holding company about 200 miles away, Midwest Bank of Western Illinois, formerly National Bank of Monmouth, is now regaining its independence.

Bankers usually honor each other at their conferences for service to the industry or their communities.

Downtown Rocky Mount, N.C., has seen better days.

Top executives at a bank acquired by North Valley Bancorp last year have decided to start their own bank.

Amcore Financial Inc. of Rockford, Ill., has entered into a written agreement with the office of the Comptroller of the Currency to develop a consumer compliance program.

Wilshire Bancorp Inc. of Los Angeles announced Thursday that it had opened its first branch outside of the Los Angeles area.

America's Community Bankers has added 26 banks to its Nasdaq bank index.