Americas

The latest nixed deal, between Florida Bank Group Inc. in Tampa and Anderen Financial Inc. in Palm Harbor, brought the issue to the fore when the companies said last week that regulators are hesitant to approve "expansionary" deals.

Sticker shock over a recent deal in Texas has left the heads of some generally acquisitive banks uttering assurances they'd rather walk away than overpay.

Fourth-quarter earnings at Republic Bancorp Inc. in Louisville, Ky., were up 15% from a year earlier, to $4.4 million as credit costs fell.

Virginia Commerce Bancorp Inc.'s fourth-quarter earnings rose, but fell short of analysts' expectations.

The Federal Reserve Board said Thursday it reached a written agreement with Intervest Bancshares Corp. of New York.

The president and chief executive of Pinnacle Bankshares Corp. in Altavista, Va., is retiring. Robert Gilliam Jr., will leave in a "midyear 2011 time frame," the $303.5 million-asset company said Tuesday in a press release.

Fourth-quarter earnings at Fulton Financial Corp. in Lancaster, Pa., improved from a year earlier in part because of higher mortgage income and a lower loan-loss provision.

Hancock Holding Co. in Gulfport, Miss., reported late Tuesday that its net income increased nearly 28% in the fourth quarter from a year earlier.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. is targeting directors and executives of another failed bank, but this time the agency has a guilty plea to back its claims of mismanagement.

BankUnited Inc. unveiled estimated terms for an increased initial public offering, with current holders behind the bulk of the equity sale.