Arkansas

The $13.5 billion-asset company said this week that it will shutter nine branches in Arkansas, eight in Mississippi — including two in its headquarters city — three in Tennessee, and one each in Texas, Alabama and Missouri.

Several frequent buyers of failed banks struck new deals with regulators on Friday for another batch of collapsed institutions. In total, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. took five banks into receivership, with a total of $2.16 billion in assets.

First National Bankers Bankshares Inc. in Baton Rouge, La., said late Friday that it consolidated its four banks along the Gulf Coast.

Evolve Financial Group Inc. in West Memphis, Ark., said its bank has added a Small Business Administration division.

Bank of the Ozarks Inc. in Little Rock, Ark., reported a 75.5% jump in fourth-quarter earnings from a year earlier, to $16.9 million, including $4.6 million from its fourth failed-bank purchase.

Home BancShares Inc. in Conway, Ark., expects a spike in its loan-loss provision when it reports fourth-quarter results.

It was another busy — and costly — night for regulators in the Southeast. Of the nation's six failures Friday — bringing the year's total to 157 — three were in Georgia and one was in Florida, continuing the onslaught the two states have suffered in the crisis.

After announcing earlier this week that his W.L. Ross & Co. plans to invest $45 million into the struggling Cascade Bancorp in Bend, Ore., another bank in his portfolio picked up one of the three banks that failed Friday.

Florida is still a prime destination for Centennial Bank in Conway, Ark., even as well-heeled acquirers move in and drive up bank prices.

North American Financial Holdings, a group formed by former Bank of America Vice Chairman Eugene Taylor, sealed deals to buy 3 failed banks in the Southeast late Friday.

Bank of Ozarks Inc. said its second-quarter net income rose 14.6% from a year earlier, to $10.9 million. The Little Rock company said Monday that higher earnings stemmed from a stronger net interest margin and declines in problem loans, chargeoffs and an allowance for loan losses.

Pinnacle Bank of Rogers, Ark., and Central Bank of Little Rock have called off plans to merge.