Louisiana

Investar Holding has reached an agreement to acquire BOJ Bancshares for $22 million, helping it expand in its home market of Baton Rouge.

Cochran is putting the cap on a career of more than 40 years that includes helping create Louisiana's CU Cooperative Branching Network and serving as the first female chair of the World Council of Credit Unions.

The Louisiana company, which recorded a large loan-loss provision to cover energy-related chargeoffs, also disclosed a new regulatory order from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

The trade association has teamed up with Retail Benefits to create "CU Perks," a shopping rewards program for CU members in the Pelican State.

MidSouth Bancorp in Louisiana, which faces a formal order from its regulators, will cut jobs, close branches and slash its dividend as it works to reduce its energy exposure.

The Louisiana company, which fired its CEO earlier this year, has been paying a hefty dividend on funds it obtained from the Treasury Department in 2011.

The Louisiana company's board has made it clear that independence is "not a God-given right" and wants new management to address energy loan issues, underwriting, capital and expenses.

Entegra Financial disclosed that it held First NBC subordinated debt. An impairment charge tied to the bank's failure will lower Entegra's first-quarter profit by $441,000.

Rusty Cloutier had been CEO of MidSouth Bancorp for 32 years. Energy-sector woes helped do him in.

The Louisiana company also said that credit quality in its energy portfolio improved during the first quarter.

MidSouth also removed Cloutier's son as part of what it called a "transition plan already under way to improve” performance.

NCUA cites safety and soundness concerns at the $107 million-asset credit union.

Ashton Ryan, who had been removed as CEO in December, had been serving as its president. The New Orleans company also agreed to sell preferred stock to directors to help it make payments tied to its subordinated debt.

Unlike most credit union conferences, if you’re under 40, you were too young to “crash” the Louisiana CU League’s annual meeting.

The New Orleans company, which recently sold nine branches and $1.3 billion in loans, was ordered to raise more capital or find a buyer.

Investar will pay $46 million in cash for Citizens, which has three branches and $246 million in assets.

Hancock Holding in Gulfport, Miss., has agreed to buy nine branches and about $1.3 billion in loans from First NBC Bank in New Orleans.

Add Investar Holding in Baton Rouge, La., to the growing list of community banks filing shelf registrations.

Iberiabank in Lafayette, La., has exited loss-share agreements tied to several failed banks it bought after the financial crisis.

Liberty Financial Services in New Orleans said it will redeem more than 11,000 shares of preferred stock it issued as part of the Troubled Asset Relief Program after receiving an investment from BancorpSouth in Tupelo, Miss.