North Dakota

Bank buyers should run potential deals by regulators early to avoid "landmines" and speed applications, officials from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency say. Proper due diligence, succession planning and risk management are among the things they look for.

Managing the royalties of oil and gas landowners could generate big new fee opportunities for well-positioned banks.

BNCCorp (BNCC) in Bismarck, N.D., named Timothy Franz its permanent chief executive less than a month after he become interim CEO.

Sen. Heidi Heitkamp is keeping busy on her August recess, talking housing finance reform and meeting with community bankers in her home state of North Dakota.

BNCCorp in Bismarck, N.D., has appointed an interim leader after Gregory Cleveland, the $798 million-asset company's chief executive, died Tuesday after a sudden illness. He was 65.

A dispute in North Dakota over assessment fees for its state-owned bank could stymie efforts to open similar banks elsewhere.

BNCCorp (BNCC) has reversed a portion of the valuation allowance against its deferred-tax assets, which will result in an $8.8 million net benefit for the Bismarck, N.D., company.

State Bank & Trust in Fargo, N.D., is changing its name to avoid confusion with the dozens of banks in its markets that have similar names.

The Fed on Tuesday announced a written agreement with the Fargo, N.D. company. Cornerstone agreed to serve as a source of strength to its $265.4M subsidiary, which has been operating under a consent order with the FDIC since Aug. 23.

Midwest Corporate Federal Credit Union in Bismarck, N.D., has become the first corporate credit union to voluntarily liquidate in the face of daunting new capital and other regulatory requirements from the National Credit Union Administration.

Lawmakers in state capitals across the country are increasingly intrigued by arguments for public banks. With the financial crisis fueling disdain for the banking industry in general, some view these banks as an appealing alternative to a system they consider to be broken. But Eric Hardmeyer, president and chief executive of the Bank of North Dakota, is not so sure.

The Federal Reserve Board on Tuesday announced written agreements with two banks.

State Bank and Trust of North Dakota has closed its purchase of Bell Mortgage, a lender based in Minneapolis.

Sheyenne Bancorp Inc. is applying for bank holding company status from the Federal Reserve to buy out a bank in North Dakota. Sheyenne would become a subsidiary of First Holding Company of Park River Inc., which filed the application with the Federal Reserve June 22.