Georgia

Ocwen Financial announced a preliminary loss of $546 million, or $4.18 per share, for fiscal year 2014 Tuesday, on a higher-than-expected goodwill impairment and charges stemming from the company's settlement with the New York Department of Financial Services.

Wilshire Bancorp in Los Angeles has opened its first branch in Georgia.

A consumer lender with nearly 300 far-flung offices struggled to keep up with multiple compliance projects using email and Microsoft Project. Then it turned to collaboration software, and demanded some customized changes, that helped tie its many loose threads together.

When Mike Mercer spearheaded a special outreach campaign in Georgia, the name of that project sums up what he, and the credit union movement, have always sought to do: "Helping People Afford Life."

State Bank Financial in Atlanta has acquired Boyett Agency to serve as the foundation for a new insurance division.

Five Star Credit Union in Dothan, Ala., has agreed to buy Farmers State Bank in Lumpkin, Ga.

Georgia state regulators on Friday closed the $272 million-asset Capitol City Bank & Trust Co., in Atlanta, the third institution to fail this year.

Gary Patton Hall Jr. hid underperforming and at-risk loans from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the bank's loan committee, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said in its indictment Thursday.

United Community Banks in Blairsville, Ga., has solidified Lynn Harton's hold as the eventual successor to Chief Executive Jimmy Tallent.

Fee income and payment of a Home Loan bank advance helped Eagle Financial Services in Berryville, Va., boost its bottom line last quarter.

Peoples Community National Bank in Bremen, Ga., has changed its name and logo.

Community & Southern Holdings in Atlanta has agreed to buy Community Business Bank in Cumming, Ga.

State Bank Financial in Atlanta reported a decline quarterly profits as the accounting benefits related to its failed-bank purchases continued to wane.

Ameris Bancorp in Moultrie, Ga., has has agreed to buy Merchants and Southern Banks of Florida in Gainesville, along with a number of Bank of America branches.

United Community Banks in Blairsville, Ga., has agreed to buy MoneyTree Corp. in Lenoir City, Tenn.

Synovus Financial in Columbus, Ga., reported a sharp rise in fourth-quarter profit on loan growth, lower expenses, improved credit quality and other factors.

A small Georgia lender has reached a deal to avoid a threatened involuntary bankruptcy, though the resolution is likely to leave key legal questions on trust-preferred debt and bankruptcy unresolved.

United Community Banks in Blairsville, Ga., reported higher quarterly profit because of loan growth and higher fee revenue.

Ocwen Financial Corp. named two new members to its board of directors as the nonbank servicer works to repair its image in the eyes of regulators and investors.

SunTrust Banks in Atlanta reported lower fourth-quarter profits as legal costs related to mortgages offset an increase in loans and deposits.