East West Bancorp Inc. in Pasadena, Calif., surprised analysts with a $25.9 million loss for the second quarter, due to an $85 million provision for dicey residential construction and land development loans.

The severe credit issues that have beset so many California lenders have spread to the Pacific Northwest.

Few banking companies have been bold enough to talk about the future with as much optimism as Citizens Republic Bancorp Inc. in Flint, Mich.

Federal Trust Corp. in Sanford, Fla., has been given more time by the Office of Thrift Supervision to raise capital or sell itself.

Sterling Bancorp of New York said Thursday that second-quarter net income rose 15% from a year earlier, to $4.2 million, on loan growth and a higher net interest margin.

AmericanWest Bancorp in Spokane said Thursday that it is exploring strategic alternatives after losing $6.2 million, or 36 cents a share, in the second quarter because of bad loans.

As its loan troubles continue to mount, United Community Banks Inc. in Blairsville, Ga., said Thursday that second-quarter earnings dropped 40% from a year earlier, to $7 million, or 15 cents a share.

Pacific Capital Bancorp in Santa Barbara, Calif., said Wednesday that its credit troubles are starting to spread beyond residential construction loans.

A bank focused on protecting the environment plans to open in Philadelphia early next year after raising $2 million in initial capital from 35 investors.

Prosperity Bancshares Inc. in Houston said second-quarter earnings grew almost 2% from a year earlier, to $23 million, or 52 cents a share.

Capital Corp of the West in Merced, Calif., said Wednesday that it has reached an agreement with the Federal Reserve Board to improve its risk management and credit administration practices.

Cullen/Frost Bankers Inc. of San Antonio said Wednesday that its second-quarter earnings fell 2% from a year earlier, to $52.5 million.

MIDWEST

Capital City Bank Group Inc. in Tallahassee, Fla., said Tuesday that rising nonperforming loans caused its second-quarter earnings to fall 39% from a year earlier, to $4.8 million.

With loan losses mounting in Florida and Alabama, Whitney Holding Corp. in New Orleans said Tuesday that its second-quarter earnings plunged 57% from a year earlier, to $12.9 million.

Banking trade groups say a federal court ruling against a sprawling community charter for a Pennsylvania credit union is an "important" victory for the industry.

Shares of Sterling Bancshares Inc. in Houston fell 13.4% in heavy trading Tuesday, to $8.12, after the company posted second-quarter earnings that fell short of analysts' expectations.

Shares of Washington Trust Bancorp Inc. in Westerly, R.I., fell Tuesday, even though strong loan growth helped the company's second-quarter earnings climb 12.5% from a year earlier, to $6.1 million.

Tennessee Commerce Bancorp Inc. in Franklin is being sued by its former chief financial officer, who claims he was fired for alerting regulators to possible misconduct by company executives.

Sun Bancorp Inc. in Vineland, N.J., said Monday that its second-quarter earnings fell 53% from a year earlier, to $2.3 million, primarily because its loan-loss provision rose nearly sixfold, to $6.5 million.