Florida

Though smaller companies may still bid on individual failed banks, they may have to enlarge their bids — perhaps significantly — to compete with package buyers.

The South Financial Group in Greenville, S.C., reported Tuesday a large but narrowing first-quarter loss of $85.8 million. The $12.4 billion-asset company had lost $193.8 million a year earlier.

Seacoast Banking Corp. of Florida in Stuart has released to its investors $200 million in capital it was holding in escrow because it did not place the winning bid for Riverside National Bank in Fort Pierce, Fla.

WASHINGTON — TD Bank of Wilmington, Del., purchased three separate failed banks in Florida late Friday, totaling $3.9 billion in assets, on a night that saw a total of eight bank collapses.

WASHINGTON — TD Bank of Wilmington, Del., purchased three separate failed banks in Florida late Friday, totaling $3.9 billion in assets, on a night that saw a total of eight bank collapses.

These are not easy days for community banks in Georgia and Florida, but signs of hope are springing. This week in Georgia Ameris Bancorp in Moultrie announced plans to raise nearly $74 million in fresh capital via a public offering, and Gwinnett Community Bank said it raised $5 million from members of its community.

With $250 million of capital headed its way, Seacoast Banking Corp. of Florida could make the big leap from survivor to acquirer.

The National Credit Union Administration has entered the real estate market along Florida's Gulf Coast in a big way as it struggles to sell hundreds of properties it ended up holding from three large credit union failures: Norlarco Federal Credit Union, Huron River Area Federal Credit Union and New Horizons Community Federal Credit Union.

The Federal Reserve released written agreements with banks in Missouri and Florida on Thursday, limiting the firms' ability to pay dividends and boosting oversight of their operations.

The Federal Reserve announced an enforcement action against Atlantic Bancgroup in Jacksonville Beach, Fla., a move taken to help maintain financial soundness at the firm.

WASHINGTON — Four more banks failed Friday night totaling $1.2 billion in assets and costing the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. an estimated $320 million.

For the second time, BankAtlantic Bancorp Inc. in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has extended an offer to buy its trust-preferred securities back from its holders.

Encore Bancshares in Houston is paying to get out of Florida. The $1.6 billion-asset company announced an agreement last week to sell its six Florida branches, with $231 million in deposits and $86.2 million in loans, in two deals that will cost the company $1 million.

WASHINGTON — The government closed state-chartered banks in New York, Florida and Louisiana late Friday to bring the year's failure tally to 30.

The Federal Reserve Board gave the $200 million-asset Horizon Bank a narrow time frame to raise capital or find a buyer.

TIB Financial Corp. of Naples, Fla., said its fourth-quarter loss widened to $45.1 million from $13.2 million a year earlier.

Institutions in Florida, Illinois, Maryland and Utah failed Friday, bringing the year's total to 26. The failed banks held combined assets of roughly $1.1 billion and their resolution is expected to cost the Deposit Insurance Fund more than $300 million.

Institutions in Florida, Illinois, Maryland and Utah failed Friday, bringing the year's total to 26. The failed banks held combined assets of roughly $1.1 billion and their resolution is expected to cost the Deposit Insurance Fund more than $300 million.

A pair of Florida court rulings will make foreclosures in this hard-hit housing market even more painful for lenders.

EverBank in Jacksonville, Fla., is negotiating to buy a $10 billion package of residential servicing rights from Flagstar Bancorp, according to investment banking sources familiar with the matter.