Louisiana

Iberiabank Corp. in Lafayette, La., said it will consolidate its federally chartered thrift subsidiary into its commercial banking subsidiary by early October as a result of "sweeping changes" in the banking industry.

After announcing preliminary results on credit-quality issues, Whitney Holding Corp. of New Orleans posted an $18 million net loss for the second quarter.

The $11.6 billion-asset company announced late Tuesday that it is expecting to record a loan-loss provision of $57 million to $62 million, primarily stemming from credit problems in Florida and worsening credit quality in Louisiana and Texas.

The $170 million-asset company said late Thursday that it plans to become a full stock company through a second-step conversion. It completed the first step in January 2005, giving its mutual holding company a 63.8% ownership stake.

MidSouth Bancorp Inc. of Lafayette, La., said late Tuesday that the Gulf oil spill and drilling moratorium could affect roughly $15 million of its loans.

Louisiana Bancorp Inc. in Metairie said it is repurchasing its stock for the eighth time since completing a mutual-to-stock conversion three years ago.

As a result, Gulf Coast bankers are optimistic about the potential for new business stemming from the recovery effort after the recent oil spill.

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

Iberiabank in Lafayette, La., is reloading with heavier artillery. The $9.7 billion-asset company announced plans Tuesday to raise another $300 million, plus a 15% option for underwriters.

Even as many other community banks have recoiled, Iberiabank Corp. lately has been on a growth tear — raising capital, buying four failed banks and picking up lending teams from competitors.

Regulators, with their reputations on the line and anxiety about the future, are forcing some banks to hold on to much of the capital. In recent months, some banks that wanted to fully repay the Troubled Asset Relief Program were allowed to return a fraction.

MidSouth Bancorp Inc. in Lafayette, La., is looking to raise as much as $34.5 million in fresh capital, and it may use it to make acquisitions.

Community Trust Financial Corp. in Ruston, La., is expanding into Mississippi. The $1.2 billion-asset company has a deal to buy the $65 million-asset Madison Financial Corp., which would add three branches in the neighboring state.

Only three mutual thrifts have succeeded in going public so far this year, but the conversion market is starting to pick up, with two large deals on the way.