Washington Trust Bancorp Inc. of Westerly, R.I., said solid asset quality and expenses that stayed under control last year permitted more revenue than ever to flow to the bottom line. The $2.3 billion-asset company's full-year profit grew 10%, to $20.8 million; fourth-quarter earnings jumped 13%, to $5.5 million.

Just before organizers of Minnesota's Lakeview Bank held their first meeting, in April 2003, three board members who were also members of a men's Bible study group proposed a group prayer.

To position itself as the bank of choice for small-business owners and wealthy individuals, Enterprise Bank and Trust in Clayton, Mo., created its own “university” 18 months ago.

California bankers are pushing for a state law that would indemnify banks against failure to report suspected financial abuse of the elderly.

First Niagara Financial Group Inc.'s fourth-quarter earnings rose 34% from the same period in 2003, to $13.6 million.

Though the National Credit Union Administration has acted twice in 11 months to make becoming a bank more difficult, some fast-growing credit unions see little alternative and have abandoned the charter or tried to.

The former vice president of an Atlanta bank and a friend have agreed to pay fines totaling nearly $360,000 to settle charges of insider trading in connection with the bank's sale in July of 2002.

Buoyed by strong deposit and loan growth, Pennsylvania Commerce Bancorp reported record earnings for the fourth quarter and the full year.

Whitney Holding Corp.'s fourth-quarter earnings rose 13% from a year earlier, to $27 million.

MIDDLE ATLANTIC

Sometimes one remark you hear in a whole day of meetings really strikes home.

Colonial BancGroup Inc. of Montgomery, Ala., announced another deal in Florida on Tuesday, its second in four months and its 20th in the state since 1996.

Amcore Financial Inc. of Rockford, Ill., announced fourth-quarter earnings of $12.9 million, up 31%.

South Financial Group Inc. of Greenville, S.C., reported fourth-quarter earnings of $37 million, 34% more than a year earlier.

First Banks Inc. is counting on a small bank in Chicago to help it connect with Hispanics in its other markets.

FFLC Bancorp Inc. in Leesburg, Fla., reported fourth-quarter earnings of $2.7 million, 24% higher than a year earlier.

Prompted by the state's bankers, the Kansas Legislature has commissioned an independent committee to review regulatory oversight of Kansas' 98 state-chartered credit unions.

Mike Sterkel, the president of Gold Bank’s Oklahoma City branch, saw the writing on the wall two years ago and did not like the message.

Oak Hill Financial Inc. of Jackson, Ohio, reported a 67% decline in fourth-quarter net income, to $1.05 million.

Republic Bancorp Inc. of Louisville said its fourth-quarter earnings surged 43.5% from a year earlier, to $6.6 million.