In Brief: Agents, Deere & Co. Seek Thrift Charters

The Office of Thrift Supervision said Wednesday that it has received two more nonbank applications to charter thrifts, bringing the total to 26.

Deere & Co., Moline, Ill., and two of its subsidiaries plan to start FPC Financial, a federal savings bank to be based in Madison, Wis. The farm equipment company, which already finances some of its sales, said it wants to use the savings bank to expand its lending capabilities.

The Independent Insurance Agents of America, which announced plans to charter a thrift last March, finally filed its application. The trade group plans to call its thrift InsurBanc and is teaming up with Peyton Street Independent Financial Services Corp., Alexandria, Va., and W.R. Berkley Corp., Greenwich, Conn.