Several institutions in one of the nation's hardest-hit banking markets have shed enforcement actions, or have hired new leaders, as they attempt to stage comebacks.

A Treasury Department program that supplies credit to small businesses spurred $1.9 billion in loans and created or saved 53,000 jobs in its first 18 months of operation, the department says.

The Federal Housing Administration is asking for a $1.7 billion draw from the U.S. Treasury for the end of the fiscal year, up from an earlier estimate in President Obama's April budget.

Expand by acquisition or through organic market penetration. The most successful banks will include both strategies in their future plans.

Investors Bancorp (ISBC) in Short Hills, N.J., and Roma Financial (ROMA) in Robbinsville, N.J., have extended the deadline for their merger while they wait for regulatory approval.

Hampton Roads Bankshares (HMPR) in Virginia Beach, Va., didn't have to look far to find its permanent chief financial officer.

One PacificCoast Bancorp (OPCB) in Oakland, Calif., has received regulatory approval to acquire a controlling stake in Albina Community Bancorp (ACBC) in Portland, Ore.

The Federal Reserve Board has ordered SunSouth Bancshares of Dothan, Ala., to strengthen its board.

A host of regulatory issues, including new mortgage rules set to take effect in January, assures that Andy Harmening has a busy year ahead of him as the new chairman of the Consumer Bankers Association.

A bogus Florida bank is swindling consumers across the country with a fraudulent credit card scheme, according to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

Interest rates on credit cards are falling as Americans keep deleveraging and banks tighten consumer credit standards.

The Museum of American Finance on Wednesday opened its exhibit "The Fed at 100." It features artifacts and photographs that highlight the history, culture and social impact of the central bank, including this image of a New York Fed employee updating trading data on a giant chalkboard.

Meta Financial Group (CASH) in Sioux Falls, S.D., has reshuffled its management with four new executive appointments, including the promotion of Brad Hanson to president.

First Clover Leaf Financial (FCLF) in Edwardsville, Ill., has hired David Kuhl as the president and chief executive for its bank.

Seacoast Banking Corp. of Florida (SBCF) in Stuart, Fla., has been released from all enforcement actions with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

Home Federal Bancorp was looking for ways to grow its earning assets as the benefits of FDIC loss shares from two failed-bank deals faded. Lacking good prospects, it decided to sell itself to Banner Corp. More banks could find themselves in the same boat.

First Security Group (FSGI) in Chattanooga, Tenn., has completed a $5 million rights offering. The offering followed the company's April recapitalization, in which it raised $91.1 million from institutional and other accredited investors.

Community banks in the South have gotten healthier this year as a whole, but many of them have seen a slowdown in lending, according to a quarterly analysis by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

Pacific Continentalin Eugene, Ore., has named a new head for its operations around Seattle.

Customer complaints, compliance and risk management all continue to make it difficult for community banks to embrace sites such as Facebook and Twitter.