Kansas

WASHINGTON — Federal and state regulators shut seven banks late Friday, pushing the failure total this year to 103. Though the pace of failures briefly slowed earlier this month, it appears to be picking up momentum again, as Friday's failures followed six last week.

The financial reform bill slated for enactment today has nudged a staid Midwestern thrift to get bigger and take more risks.

Capitol Federal Financial in Topeka, Kan., said Monday that it plans to raise up to $1.96 billion by converting from a mutual holding company to a stock company.

Capitol Federal Financial of Topeka, Kan., reported Thursday that its fourth-quarter profit rose 32% year over year, to $21 million.

The Federal Reserve said Monday that it has ordered Cornerstone Bancshares Inc. of Overland Park, Kan., to submit plans to strengthen its credit risk management and improve its capital position, earnings and budgeting.

WASHINGTON — Regulators closed three more banks Friday evening to bring the year's failure total to 133.

The Federal Reserve has announced enforcement actions against two banking companies in Washington State and one in Kansas.

Mercantile Bancorp Inc. is shedding half its banks in a series of deals that illustrates the financial contortions some companies need to survive the recession.

A new group formed to buy failing banks plans to use its recent deal for tiny, well-capitalized Palisades National Bank as a springboard for further acquisitions.

Selling its Kansas branches helped Harrington West Financial Group Inc. hit a capital deadline this month. But the Solvang, Calif., company is far from mended.

The Federal Reserve Board used its prompt corrective action powers Tuesday on SolutionsBank of Overland Park, Kan., after deeming it undercapitalized.