Whitney Holding Corp. of New Orleans is clearly willing to pay top dollar to establish itself on Florida's Gulf Coast.

Banner Corp. in Walla Walla, Wash., said Thursday that strong loan growth, particularly in new markets, boosted its second-quarter earnings.

Calnet Business Bank in Sacramento invested heavily in technology when it opened in late 2001 so that it could offer sophisticated fee-based products and services, such as electronic draft processing, and would not have to rely too heavily on lending.

Cullen/Frost Bankers Inc. of San Antonio reported Wednesday that it had second-quarter earnings of $40.7 million, 19% more than a year earlier.

MIDWEST

First Midwest Bancorp Inc. of Itasca, Ill., announced Wednesday that its second-quarter earnings rose 7%, to $26.5 million.

Fulton Financial Corp.'s deal for Columbia Bancorp has the makings of a perfect marriage.

Berkshire Hills Bancorp in Pittsfield, Mass., said Wednesday that it lost $4.6 million in the second quarter, primarily because of an $8.6 million charge it took for the previously announced termination of its employee stock ownership program.

Guaranty Bank and Trust Co. in Denver is being sued for allegedly assisting a former money manager, Will Hoover, in swindling his customers out of nearly $12 million, according to the Rocky Mountain News.

Except for their names, BankAtlantic Bancorp of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Commerce Bancorp of Cherry Hill, N.J., are remarkably similar.

TIB Financial Corp. in Naples, Fla., announced record earnings for the second quarter: $2.18 million, up 74% from the same period in 2004.

Words to the wise banker, compliments of Credit Union National Association president Daniel A. Mica: pressing for the elimination of credit unions’ tax exemption will backfire.

Valley National Bancorp. of Wayne, N.J., decided in May that it needed to solidify its Bank Secrecy Act compliance, and for talent it turned to two competitors and the U.S. Air Force.

Independent Bank Corp., of Ionia, Mich., reported second-quarter earnings Monday of $12.1 million, up 34% from the same quarter last year.

Hovde Financial Inc. of Washington is launching a $70 million-plus private equity fund focused primarily on the banking industry.

Thirty-eight banks and thrifts made Sandler O’Neill & Partners LP’s second annual “Sm-All Stars” list, and 16 of them are headquartered in California.

Wilmington Trust Corp. said Friday that its second-quarter profits rose 11% from a year earlier, to $40.4 million, driven by its banking business and an improving net interest margin.

Austin Bank of Chicago has come up with some novel answers to the touchy succession questions confronting many community banks.

Though flush with capital after it survived a near-death experience three years ago, City Holding Co. has been in no rush to build assets.