Capital

First Financial Bancorp. in Cincinnati has issued $120 million in subordinated debt and plans to use the proceeds for potential stock repurchases and to support growth.

Tri-Valley Bank in San Ramon, Calif., plans to raise $1.35 million in a private placement of its common stock.

SBT Bancorp in Simsbury, Conn., plans to raise about $7.5 million through a private placement of subordinated debt and $8.6 million through a public offering of common stock.

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Dennis Lockhart said he continues to expect the first interest- rate hike in nearly a decade this year, while cautioning that a stronger dollar, a weaker Chinese yuan and falling oil prices complicate the outlook.

Cecil Bancorp in Elkton, Md., has been ordered by federal regulators to raise more capital or sell itself.

Blue Valley Ban Corp. in Overland Park, Kan., has named an executive from a large investor in the company to its board.

Market Street Bancshares in Mount Vernon, Ill., has completed a $15 million debt offering.

Esquire Bank, a Garden City, N.Y., bank that specializes in financial services for law firms, has raised $19.1 million in a private placement of common stock.

Bankwell Financial Group in New Canaan, Conn., has issued $25.5 million in subordinated debt and it plans to exit the Small Business Lending Fund program.

Activist investor Joseph Stilwell is demanding that Carroll Bancorp in Sykesville, Md., pick up the pace on stock buybacks.