Americas

Shareholders of OptimumBank Holdings (OPHC) have approved a reverse stock split aimed at preserving the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., company's Nasdaq listing.

Miguel Blesa, a former executive of Caja Madrid, is in Spanish prison after being accused of arranging to buy Florida's City National Bank at an inflated price.

Pacific Mercantile Bancorp (PMBC) has postponed its annual meeting after it discovered that it awarded too many stock option grants to its former chief executive.

Fulton Financial (FULT) in Lancaster, Pa., announced that its longtime chief financial officer will retire at the end of this year.

As investor Jay Sidhu and Atlantic Coast Financial intensify their fight over the Florida company's deal to sell to Bond Street Holdings, the market has priced a higher deal value into the stock. Atlantic Coast warns that no such bump-up is coming.

Hampton Roads Bancshares (HMPR) in Virginia Beach, Va., has named Charles Johnston chairman.

Flagstar Bancorp (FBC) in Troy, Mich., announced that its chief executive, Michael Tierney, has stepped aside after just eight months in the post.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. is seeking to recover $48 million from officers and directors of a Florida bank that collapsed in 2010 following heavy defaults on commercial real estate loans.

Mars National Bank near Pittsburgh has drafted a local boy-turned-major-leaguer, Neil Walker of the Pirates, as its pitchman.

Republic First Bancorp (FRBK) in Philadelphia is continuing its push into southern New Jersey.