Americas

Fulton Financial (FULT) in Lancaster, Pa., said Tuesday that its first-quarter earnings climbed nearly 13% from the same period last year, to $38.1 million, as strong refinancing activity, improved asset quality and sharply lower funding costs more than offset sluggish commercial loan growth.

In a complex move, BNC Bancorp (BNCN) in High Point, N.C., is seeking to change its private equity partner's ownership position in order to boost its capital levels.

Westamerica Bancorporation (WABC) in San Rafael, Calif., said Tuesday that its first-quarter earnings fell 6.2%, to $21.8 million, from the same period in 2011 as the company intentionally curtailed its lending in response to persistently low interest rates and fierce competition for quality loans.

United Community Banks (UCBI) in Blairsville, Ga., has registered the preferred shares it issued to the Treasury Department as part of the Troubled Asset Relief Program for potential resale, a key step for banks that want to be included in any upcoming auctions of Tarp shares.

DENVER – State regulators on Friday approved applications from $2 billion Bellco CU and $225 million Denver Community CU to serve almost 450,000 residents in Adams County, making at least five of the state's biggest credit unions authorized to serve the fast-growing county, which includes the Denver bedroom communities of Arvada and Aurora and part of the city of Denver.

CNB Financial (CCNE) of Clearfield, Pa., reported first-quarter income of $4.3 million, up almost 33% from a year earlier, as net interest income and total loans rose.

WSFS Financial (WSFS) in Wilmington, Del., says that a discounted loan program it established late last year to help spur small-business expansion has been so well-received that the company is extending it through the end of June.

FVNB Corporation in Victoria, Texas, is expanding into the Austin and San Antonio markets with a deal to acquire the $270 million-asset First State Bank in New Braunfels.

Intervest Bancshares (IBCA) in New York said Monday that its first-quarter profit climbed 53% from the same period in 2011 due primarily to lower overhead and improved asset quality.

Chemical Financial (CHFC) reported first-quarter income of $12.4 million, up almost 35% from a year earlier, as the Midland, Mich., company's earnings were boosted by the sale of its merchant processing business.