An estimated 515 different collection agencies and creditors were sued between March 16-31, the highest half-month period thus far in 2011 and up from 417 sued between March 1-15, according to data from U.S. District Courts.

Chemung Financial Corp. in Elmira, N.Y., has completed its acquisition of Fort Orange Financial Corp. in Albany, N.Y.

Tower Bancorp Inc. in Harrisburg, Pa., said last week that its chief financial officer had returned from a medical absence.

State regulators last Friday approved a request by Bellco Credit Union in Greenwood Village, Colo., to expand in order to serve all 610,000 residents of Denver County.

Hancock Holding Co. in Gulfport, Miss., said Monday that Nasdaq Stock Market Inc. notified it last week that it had failed to comply with a rule dealing with director independence.

Camden National Corp. in Maine has formed an executive management team. The five-officer team reports to Gregory Dufour, the $2.3 billion-asset company's president and chief executive.

Suffolk Bancorp in Riverhead, N.Y., said Tuesday that is overhauling its lending operations after reporting a big first-quarter loss.

Intervest Bancshares Corp. in New York posted a first-quarter profit after reporting a loss a year earlier. The $2 billion-asset company reported a profit of $1.7 million, or 8 cents a share, compared with a loss of $2.9 million, or 35 cents a share, a year earlier.

The Federal Reserve Board on Tuesday announced enforcement actions against two banks.

G. Kennedy Thompson, a former chairman and chief executive of Wachovia Corp., will join the board of BNC Bancorp in High Point, N.C.

CHELSEA, Mass. – Metro CU, in the process of acquiring nearby University FCU, is opening a new Boston branch next month, representing an expanded presence in the city by the $800 million credit union based in Boston’s working neighborhood of Chelsea.

There are 7,604 banks and thrifts in this country, and the core mission of nearly all of them is to lend locally. As currently structured, however, nearly 40% of these institutions are barred from taking part in the Small Business Lending Fund, the government's latest attempt to stimulate the national economy from the community level on up.

In 26 metropolitan statistical areas, branches accounting for more than 10% of market deposits were operated by institutions that agreed to sell or failed since July 1.

Two companies and three individuals are banned from the mortgage-relief services business and must relinquish $2.2 million in assets for consumer refunds, according to a settlement reached with the Federal Trade Commission.

Preliminary data indicates that C&I lending continued to show strength in the first quarter - but mainly at big banks - while other loan categories remained lifeless.

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State University FCU opened its newest branch in the former Dimitri’s Restaurant building in downtown Lansing last week.

MECHANICSBURG, Penn. – Members 1st FCU on Monday opened a new branch in North Cornwall Township, its second in Lebanon County and one of five the $2 billion plans to open in 2011.

Baltimore County Savings Bank is looking to switch to a Maryland chartered bank from a federal thrift.

First Place Financial Corp. in Warren, Ohio, has deferred payments on its subordinated debt and preferred shares issued to the Treasury Department to save cash and comply with an enforcement action.

Altura Credit Union in Riverside, Calif., which reported a 2010 loss of $5.8 million, said Friday that it is closing four branches and laying off 26 employees, or 11% of its work force.