First Community Financial Partners in Joliet, Ill., will combine its four banks under a single charter to increase the availability of products at each one.

Lakeland Bancorp (LBAI) is planning to raise more than $25 million through two offerings.

Eastern Federal Bank of Norwich, Conn., has applied to the Connecticut Department of Banking to switch from a federal charter to a state charter.

FDIC's Quarterly Banking Profile shows broad improvements in the number of institutions making more loans. But with rock-bottom interest rates squeezing margins, banks yet again looked toward reduced loss provisions to drive earnings.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has released PVF Capital's (PVFC) bank unit from an enforcement order after the Solon, Ohio, bank met capital requirements.

Hampton Roads Bankshares finds itself between a rock and a hard place. As a Tarp participant, it has refused to pay severance to several former executives. Several of those officers, including former CEO Jack Gibson, filed lawsuits asserting that their employment contracts preempt the Tarp prohibition.

The Bank of Birmingham in Michigan has joined an increasing group of bankers delving into equipment financing, saying it will offer financing on "most equipment types" such as manufacturing and transportation.

Naugatuck Valley Financial (NVSL) in Connecticut is expecting to record its third consecutive quarterly loss after writing down roughly $5.3 million on five loans during the current quarter.

Peter Humphrey is immediately retiring from the bank its holding company to spend more time with family and pursue other interests.

A breakdown of M&A announcements in the financial services industry for the week ended August 25.

IMGCAP(1)]

BB&T (BBT) will close 21 branches as it works to ingrate the recently acquired BankAtlantic into its operations.

S&T Bank in Indiana, Pa., has expanded its commercial loan business into northeast Ohio by opening an office in Akron.

The Paramus, N.J., thrift decided to sell itself to M&T for a relatively low price rather than keep trying to overcome its reliance on low interest rates. That was bad news for the countless small banks attempting similar reboots.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has issued an enforcement order against Citizens First National Bank that requires the Princeton, Ill., bank to become adequately capitalized or sell itself.

Most of the program's participants are increasing business loans, though some are having to reduce lending rates to book the best loans.

The regulatory risk from Basel III, Dodd-Frank and other pressures will keep banks from growing, and the economy can't grow, if banks don't.

Jacksonville Bancorp (JAXB) plans to raise up to $50 million by selling securities to a group of investors led by the Florida company's biggest shareholder.

Offer each retail customer the best terms for which he qualifies—and not just for mortgages. Don't count on a second chance to bargain or risk the legal and reputational consequences of offering less than your best.

Independent Bank in Rockland, Mass., has filed a shelf registration to raise up to $125 million.