JANESVILLE, Wis. — As fast-food restaurants, with their choice corner locations and drive-up windows, close due to the economy, they seem a perfect fit for a CU looking to expand its branch network, but there are other factors to consider.

TALLAHASSE, Fla. — Credit unions that have gone through the process of converting a non-financial building to a new branch seem to agree on why they chose that route: location and timeline. While commercial real estate values have declined significantly, prime spots along major thoroughfares that can accommodate a drive-thru easily are still hard to come by, even in shell-shocked real estate markets like Florida.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Credit unions could have the opportunity to snatch up Bank of America branches, now that the banking giant could be cutting up to 10% of its branching network over the next few years.

NORCROSS, Ga. — Credit unions looking to in-store branching to expand their physical footprints need to be aware of the unique nature of such branches.

A bill introduced in Congress this week would expand the powers of credit unions to make business loans.

Though its nonperforming loans grew dramatically in the second quarter, Appalachian Bancshares Inc. in Ellijay, Ga., said Thursday that it expects to bring in enough capital to satisfy a regulatory order.

For a year and a half, Taylor Capital Group in Rosemont, Ill., has tried to distinguish the growth of its commercial and industrial lending from the credit problems in its residential real estate portfolio.

After posting its fifth consecutive quarterly loss and falling out of compliance with a regulatory order, Pacific Capital Bancorp said it is weighing "strategic alternatives" — which usually means a company is on the sales block.

The moment a bank anticipates, or sees, signs of nonperformance, it is absolutely essential to meet with the borrower in person and ask the tough questions.

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NEW ENGLAND

VIENNA, Va. – Navy FCU, which has embarked on the most ambitious expansion plan in credit union history, has trimmed plans for new branches, in light of the economic slowdown.

With its credit quality increasingly troubled, Midwest Banc Holdings Inc. was already among the relatively small group of banks to defer dividend payments on the government's preferred shares.

A member of the government's watchdog agency on Wednesday said the Small Business Administration should rethink elements of its program to delegate decision-making power to lenders.

First Insurance Funding, a unit of WinTrust Financial, paid $679.5M to become the largest traditional life insurance premium finance lender in North America, it said Tuesday.

Amcore Financial, a $5.1 billion-asset company in Rockford, Ill., reported a loss of $10.7M in the second quarter, its sixth consecutive loss.

Many customers who prefer a local touch, and talented bankers who want to offer it, are ripe for the plucking by surviving area banks.

Under Jay Sidhu, the former chairman and CEO of Sovereign Bancorp, New Century Bank, plans to launch an aggressive mortgage warehouse lending initiative.