Americas

The $293 million-asset Southwest Georgia Financial Corp. wants to expand in Valdosta, Ga., and other key markets.

Shares of Republic First Bancorp Inc. soared Wednesday after the Philadelphia company announced that it had sold $59 million of mostly problem real estate loans to a single investor.

First United Bancorp Inc. in Boca Raton, Fla., is unloading three of the seven western Florida branches it inherited when it acquired the failed Old Harbor Bank in Clearwater in October.

Pacific Capital Bancorp in Santa Barbara, Calif., is using some of its excess cash to pay down debt and resume paying interest on trust preferred securities.

Talmer Bancorp Inc. in Troy, Mich., said Monday that it had completed its acquisition of Lake Shore Wisconsin Corp. in Glenwood City.

Associated Banc-Corp in Green Bay, Wis., said that it will close 21 branches across three states by mid-2012.

A small South Florida bank is now considered to be undercapitalized after it restated year-to-date results to show a larger loss than first reported.

BankUnited Inc. in Miami Lakes, Fla., opened three new branches on both Florida coasts Monday and now has opened a dozen branches in its home state since Nov. 7.

In what is probably the last night for bank collapses in 2011, regulators closed banks in Florida and Arizona, bringing the year's failure tally to 92.

West Coast Bancorp Inc. in Lake Oswego, Ore., has added a director to its board with ties to a investment firm that participated in the company's 2009 private placement.