Just days after several banking analysts tabbed it as a takeover candidate, Sterling Bancshares Inc. of Houston announced a deal — but as a buyer, not a seller.

Mercantile Bank Corp. in Grand Rapids, Mich., reported sharply higher income, loans, and deposits.

Bank of Montreal has declared its intention to build its U.S. retail banking operations through midsize acquisitions, but the deal it and its Chicago subsidiary announced Thursday shows that smaller targets will not be ignored.

First Arkansas Bank and Trust does not want Bank of the Ozarks in its backyard - and is suing to keep it out.

The free antiques appraisals that South Shore Co-Operative Bank offered one night last week in Quincy, Mass., were a smashing success, drawing hundreds of people and even winning some new customers.

Banking trade groups have thrown their full support behind the Central American Free Trade Agreement, saying it would help banks by opening up new markets for U.S. farmers and manufacturers and creating tens of thousands of jobs.

First Commonwealth Financial Corp. of Indiana, Pa., said the president and chief executive officer of its First Commonwealth Bank had submitted his resignation.

Like small U.S. banks, Japanese community banks face intense competition from large banks that often use their size to their advantage.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has given Wachovia Corp. an "outstanding" Community Reinvestment Act rating.

With Zions Bancorp. having won an apparent bidding war for Houston's Amegy Bancorp, analysts say the merger-and-acquisition spotlight will shift to Texas' remaining independent banks, especially Sterling Bancshares Inc.

MIDDLE ATLANTIC

Farmers Capital Bank Corp. of Frankfort, Ky., is buying Citizens Bancorp of Newport for $38 million in cash and stock.

Cherokee Banking Co. in Canton, Ga., announced Tuesday that it is going private to reduce its legal, accounting, and regulatory costs.

Now that PrivateBancorp Inc. has established itself in some of the Midwest's more affluent markets, it is ready to start following its customers to Florida and Arizona, where many of them spend their winters.

A Connecticut man's admission last week that he bought shares of NewAlliance Bancshares Inc. illegally when it went public last year illustrates the lengths to which some will go to get in on thrift conversions.

After months of delay, Nara Bancorp Inc. of Los Angeles has finally reported earnings for the first quarter and all of 2004.

By acquiring United National Bank, East West Bancorp of San Marino, Calif., would overtake longtime rival Cathay General Bancorp as the nation's largest Asian-American banking company.

The $1.5 billion-asset ABC Bancorp of Moultrie, Ga., is buying the $255 million First National Banc Inc. of St. Marys, Ga., for $34.8 million.

Many banks sell themselves because they lack the capital to grow, but 1st State Bancorp Inc. in Burlington, N.C., is selling because it has too much.