Americas

United Community Banks Inc. of Blairsville, Ga. is back in the black — again.

Suffolk Bancorp in Riverhead, N.Y., said late Wednesday that it has a new accounting firm.

Astoria Financial Corp. in Lake Success, N.Y., said late Wednesday that its fourth-quarter profits fell 50% from a year earlier, to $11.8 million, because of decreases in average interest-earning assets.

Susquehanna Bancshares Inc. in Lititz, Pa., reported Wednesday that its fourth-quarter earnings nearly doubled from a year earlier, to $19.1 million, on improvements in areas such as lending, fee income and a reduction of problem assets.

John Keach Jr., the chairman and CEO of Indiana Community Bancorp, which agreed to sell to a rival this week, speaks for many bankers in ticking off the threats to going it alone as a community bank — and explains why his bank decided it had to get out now.

Buoyed by a lower loan-loss provision, Lakeland Financial Corp. in Warsaw, Ind., said Wednesday that its fourth-quarter profits rose 43% from a year earlier, to $8.3 million.

Umpqua Holdings Corp. in Portland, Ore., said late Wednesday that its fourth-quarter profit was nearly triple that of a year earlier, due largely to improved asset quality.

S.Y. Bancorp Inc. in Louisville, Ky., reported Wednesday that its fourth-quarter profits climbed 5% from a year earlier, to $6.3 million, because of tax adjustments.

Tompkins Financial Corp. in Ithaca, N.Y., reported higher quarterly and annual earnings on Wednesday despite mounting pressure in its net interest margin.

Popular Inc.'s management deemed 2011 a "turnaround" year as the San Juan, Puerto Rico, while projecting an even better 2012.