California

NCAL Bancorp in Los Angeles and Raton Capital in New Mexico have been hit with enforcement orders from the Federal Reserve Board that require them to stabilize their ailing bank subsidiaries.

The regional bank is expanding into the Golden State's central coast region with its first open-bank deal in five years.

Wilshire Bancorp in Los Angeles has exited the Troubled Asset Relief Program by repurchasing the bulk of its shares it issued to the Treasury Department at a slight discount.

The Birmingham, Ala., investment bank has hired John Hamel from Roth Capital Partners and two associates to its group that advises on bank deals. Hamel will report to Robert Hutchinson, head of investment banking for depository institutions.

An institutional investor at Broadway Financial (BYFC) has agreed to swap its preferred shares for common stock to help the Los Angeles company attract more capital.

Community West Bancshares in Goleta, Calif., has yet another chief executive, marking its third CEO in less than a year.

Bridge Capital Holdings Inc. in San Jose is opening a third loan office on the East Coast to lend to emerging technology companies.

Seacoast Commerce Bank in Chula Vista, Calif., will open its first loan-production office in Utah.

Despite strong asset and deposit growth, First PacTrust Bancorp Inc. swung to a loss in the fourth quarter as the Irvine, Calif., company sharply increased its loan-loss provision to reflect both a surge in total loans and an increase in impaired loans.

First Republic Bank in San Francisco has opened a trust company in Delaware as it looks to gain a greater market share of affluent households.

Two California banks have repaid funds they received from the Treasury Department under the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Sierra Vista Bank in Folsom, Calif., is looking to start its fifth year with $6.5 million of new capital.

Community West Bancshares Inc. in Goleta, Calif., is closing its four out-of state Small Business Administration lending offices as part of a broad restructuring plan aimed at reducing risk and improving the company's overall health.

Pacific Mercantile Bancorp in Costa Mesa, Calif., has restructured its planned stock sale to an institutional investor in a move that will save it almost $1 million and increase a key capital ratio.

First Republic Bank in San Francisco said certain shareholders, including members of its management team, will sell up to 11.8 million shares of common stock in a secondary offering.

The growth-hungry Opus Bank in Irvine, Calif., is making good on its plans to grow organically alongside acquisitions.

Hana Financial Group of Seoul, South Korea, has agreed to buy newly issued shares of common stock, and a 51% ownership interest, in Saehan Bancorp in Los Angeles.

Community West Bank in Goleta, Calif., is under orders from its regulator to beef up its capital levels and improve oversight of its loan portfolio.

With two of its largest investors pressuring it to find a buyer, First California Financial Group Inc. in Westlake Village has hired an unnamed investment bank to help it explore its options.

Regulators have terminated two cease-and-desist orders against a small Los Angeles commercial bank after a recapitalization effort and a management shakeup.