Prosperity Bancshares Inc. in Houston announced Monday that it would acquire the 19 branches, including deposits of $500 million and assets of $100 million, from First Banks for a 5.5% deposit premium, or $27.5 million.

An estimated 712 different collection agencies and creditors are named in 851 consumer statute lawsuits filed nationwide in January, according to data from U.S. District Court complaint dockets. The monthly total includes 716 cases citing violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), up from 551 in January 2009. The number of Fair Credit Reporting Act lawsuits actually dropped last month, to 77 from 109 cases in January 2009.

Debt buying and collection industry leaders have aggressively lobbied lawmakers to nix - or at least revamp - the Consumer Financial Protection Agency blueprint, which would consolidate financial industry oversight.

SEATTLE – BECU last week held a grand opening for its newest branch, which is in the underserved neighborhood of Lower Queen Anne.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Charlotte Metro CU has agreed to acquire one of the three local branches being closed by Coastal FCU in the University area.

WASHINGTON — President Obama on Friday said he wants to expand Small Business Administration guarantees to commercial real estate loans.

Senate Banking Committee leaders said Friday that negotiations on a regulatory reform bill had reached an impasse. We offer the following FAQ about what is really going on.

The FDIC said Community Development Bank would take over operations of 1st American State Bank, which late Friday became the third institution closed in Minnesota this year.

First Southern Bancorp has raised about $400 million to acquire failed banks in the south Florida market. Along with the capital, the company added some well-known bankers.

First Southern Bancorp has raised about $400 million to acquire failed banks in the south Florida market. Along with the capital, the company added some well-known bankers.

Albina Community Bancorp in Portland, Ore., Friday reported losing $1.8 million in the fourth quarter, compared with a $60,000 loss for the same period in 2008.

DNB Financial Corp. in Downington, Pa., Friday reported fourth-quarter earnings of $573,000 compared with a loss of $230,000 for the year-earlier quarter.

Albina Community Bancorp in Portland, Ore., Friday reported losing $1.8 million in the fourth quarter, compared with a $60,000 loss for the same period in 2008.

DNB Financial Corp. in Downington, Pa., Friday reported fourth-quarter earnings of $573,000 compared with a loss of $230,000 for the year-earlier quarter.

Nearly 25,000 consumers deceived in a collections scam operated by three companies, using the name National Check Control, will receive $1.6 million, Federal Trade Commission spokesperson Claudia Bourne Farrell tells Collections & Credit Risk.

Bank of Granite Corp. of Granite Falls, N.C., said Wednesday that the Nasdaq stock market notified it that it now complies with the exchange's listing rules.

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

A Chicago entrepreneur is suing the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to win back capital he invested in a bank in the months before it failed.

Traumatized by shrinking retirement assets and home values - job losses, too - consumers continue to dramatically cut spending while juggling their monthly bills to stay afloat.

First Mariner Bancorp's sale of its consumer finance arm hurt its quarterly results, but boosted capital.