Capital

ConnectOne Bancorp in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., has exited the Small Business Lending Fund program.

A recent meeting with the OCC is giving mutual thrifts hope that they can find a way to bring in more capital before the next recession. The OCC, while open to a solution, is keen to protect the rights of those institutions' deposit holders.

Roughly 90 banks that participated in the government's lending program still owe money to the Treasury Department and face a massive dividend increase. Many of those could view selling as a better alternative to raising new capital.

A well-known Wall Street firm is urging Citigroup to split itself in two for the benefit of investors, adding to the chorus of calls for the biggest banks to be broken up. How much of a difference will it make?

Bank of America's board approved the repurchase of as much as $800 million in shares, joining JPMorgan Chase and Capital One Financial this year in returning more capital to shareholders.

Atlantic Bancshares in Bluffton, S.C., has raised about $4 million to redeem shares issued through the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Loans outpacing GDP and the expressed optimism of CEOs on recent earnings calls are among the signs that growth figures are too good to be true.

First Resource Bank in Exton, Pa., has redeemed its remaining preferred shares tied to the Small Business Lending Fund.

Tidelands Bancshares in Mount Pleasant, S.C., has been declared in default on $18.3 million of trust-preferred securities.

The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco is exploring ways to use $40 million it received as part of a private-label securities settlement to support small-business development and job creation to help future homebuyers.

Ray Grace, North Carolina's banking commissioner, believes federal bank regulators should embrace charters for banks dedicated to innovation. Doing so, he said, would help the banking industry secure its spot as a "laboratory for change."

EverBank Financial in Jacksonville, Fla., plans to raise $90 million through a public offering of subordinated debt.

That is the message from North Carolina's banking commissioner and others who think the odds of preventing the rule are so low, and the amount of preparation needed to comply so great, that bankers should get real.

Not only are widening credit spreads for both banks and the companies they lend to a red flag, but the financial sector is also feeling a hit from lower energy prices.

Peoples Bancorp in Marietta, Ohio, has obtained a $15 million credit line and has paid off an earlier loan.

Add BB&T to the list of banks bolstering reserves because of growing concerns about energy exposure.

Alamogordo Financial in Alamogordo, N.M., plans to convert from a mutual to a fully stock-owned bank holding company.

HarborOne Bank, a mutually owned co-operative bank in Brockton, Mass., plans to sell shares to the public.

The $8.2 billion-asset company will issue about 4.9 million shares at $14.50 apiece, according to a news release Thursday.

Citizens Financial Group in Providence, R.I., plans to repurchase $125 million in subordinated notes to improve its efficiency and capital structure.