Westside Community Bank in University Place, Wash., became the first failed institution of 2013 late Friday.

Banks with at least $10 billion of assets approved 14.9% of loans between $250,000 and $3 million in December, up nearly two percentage points from a month earlier and the highest rate in roughly a year, according to an index published Wednesday by Biz2Credit, which connects small and mid-size business borrowers with lenders.

Flagstar in Troy, Mich., provided misleading information about the condition of loans that backed securities insured by MBIA and led to big losses, MBIA's lawsuit says.

The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) is toasting the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for agreeing to examine the economic benefit that megabanks derive from their too-big-to-fail status.

Profits rose 43% at DSA Financial (DSFN) of Lawrenceburg, Ind., on its sales of loans and investments last quarter.

Analysts will also pay close attention to what bankers says about cost cutting and fallout from the fiscal cliff compromise.

Heartland Financial USA (HTLF), a multibank holding company in Dubuque, Iowa, has swapped executives with one of its subsidiaries through a pair of promotions.

First Keystone in Berwick, Pa., has convinced its retired chief executive to serve as its vice chairman.

The $11.5 billion-asset subsidiary of Umpqua Holdings Corporation (UMPQ) said Thursday that its private banking arm will expand service to Seattle and San Francisco.

Old Dominion National Bank of North Garden, Va., has struck a deal to raise funds from an investor, contingent on the success of a private placement.

The $196 million-asset bank in Mt. Dora, Fla., said Thursday it has opened a branch in Orlando that continues its commitment to the environment.

Unlimited TAG insurance of noninterest-bearing deposits ended with 2012. Any shifting of cash from banks to money market funds has been modest so far.

Hanmi Financial announced Wednesday that it has hired an advisor to help it explore strategic alternatives. Observers say the recovered lender could be a hot ticket, fetching between $16 to $20 per share.

American Samoa has only one bank left after Bank of Hawaii announced it would leave. A group led by Afimutasi Gus Hannemann is working to bring others to the tiny island territory.

Hingham Institution for Savings in Massachusetts (HIFS) will soon have an island outpost.

Community banks are likely to look at trimming more costs in 2013 as investors insist on improved efficiency.

Southern Bancorp in Arkadelphia, Ark., has hired a sitting state legislator to become its chief executive.

PNC Bank and Charter One Bank have each named new regional presidents for Illinois.

Donna Goodrich, new chairman of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, promises to represent banks of all sizes — not just bigger ones like BB&T — and says FHLBs could be pivotal to housing reform.

The elimination of a requirement that ATMs have physical placards notifying users of any fees should end a wave of litigation against banks and credit unions.