Progreso CEO Raul Vazquez discusses the firm's strategic plans and speaks out for the first time about the Hispanic lender's connections to retail giant Wal-Mart.

Doral, under pressure from the FDIC to boost capital or sell assets, is demanding a refund from the territory tied to certain receivables. The capital issue prompted to downgrades from several ratings agencies.

Bank boards are busier than ever, but that's no excuse for putting succession planning on the back burner, say consultants Peter Thies and Ollie Sommer.

Five Star Credit Union in Dothan, Ala., has received approval from the Alabama Credit Union Administration to buy Flint River National Bank in Camilla, Ga.

SVB Financial (SIVB) in Santa Clara, Calif., has filed to sell nearly 4.5 million shares of common stock.

Central Pacific Financial (CPF) in Honolulu is moving several top executives into new posts.

The Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corp. (AGM) reported a decline in first-quarter profits driven largely by the early refinancing of agricultural securities.

Between Operation Choke Point and anti-laundering regulations, financial institutions are going to new lengths to avoid anything even remotely associated with illegality — raising questions of fairness, slippery slopes and self-preservation.

Westbury Bancorp (WBB) in West Bend, Wis., intends to repurchase up to 250,000 of its issued and outstanding shares, or roughly 4.9% of its stock.

The investment bank has moved its annual banking conference to Denver after 16 years in Seattle, signaling its desire to do more bank deals in the central U.S. where M&A activity is expected to get busier.

Republic Bancorp (RBCCA) of Louisville, Ky., announced Monday the merger of two of its subsidiaries: Republic Bank, a federally chartered savings association, and Republic Bank & Trust Co., a state-chartered commercial bank.

Banc of California (BANC) in Irvine, Calif., swung to a loss in the first quarter as expenses ballooned following its acquisition of the Private Bank of California

Prepaid cards are an appealing market for small banks that want to retain and recruit customers, though bankers must consider potential regulatory and competitive risks before jumping into the business.

A recap of the informed opinions (and the discussions they generated) on BankThink this week.

Rodger Levenson of WSFS Financial (WSFS) in Wilmington, Del., has been appointed chairman of the Delaware Bankers Association.

Taylor Capital (TAYC) in Chicago is no longer looking to sell its mortgage banking operation.

First Farmers Financial (FFMR) in Converse, Ind., has agreed to buy seven branches in Indiana from Bank of Montreal's BMO Harris Bank.

Hampton Roads Bankshares (HMPR) in Virginia Beach, Va., reported higher net income that largely reflected lower expenses and a spike in income from bank-owned life insurance.

Glacier Bancorp (GBCI) in Kalispell, Mont., has agreed to buy First National Bank of the Rockies in Grand Junction, Colo.

Kevin Cummings, CEO of Investors Bancorp, wants to reach $30 billion in assets in the next six years, but he admits that Investors must sharpen its focus on commercial clients to achieve that objective.