United Western Bancorp Inc. in Denver has filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in a move that would allow the company more time to pursue its lawsuit against federal regulators for seizing its thrift in January 2011.

Pioneer Bank in Roswell, N.M., is expanding its reach in the Lone Star state with a deal to buy two branches in El Paso, Texas, from Washington Federal Inc. in Seattle.

Perhaps readying itself for further expansion, Iberiabank Corp. in Lafayette, La., has filed a shelf registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission that would allow it to quickly raise capital for use in pursuing deals.

A lot of bankers are chipper about their choppers, says Leo Hinkley, who along with other motorcycle enthusiasts at BankAtlantic participated in a special fundraiser in Fort Lauderdale this weekend.

Hancock Bank of Gulfport, Miss., was losing the fight against fraud in certain channels. Their odds improved after working with the vendor of their fraud system, ACI.

TCF Financial Corp. in Wayzata, Minn., said in a regulatory filing that it will buy about $805 million in deposits from a unit of insurer Prudential Financial Inc.

WASHINGTON — The failure of Global Commerce Bank in Doraville, Ga., late Friday was estimated to cost the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. nearly $18 million.

First Midwest Bancorp Inc. in Itasca, Ill., has added a four-person team to its recently formed asset-based lending division.

There are few clear home runs when it comes to acquisitions in Florida. Controversy with would-be sellers such as BankAtlantic and BankUnited only serve to highlight issues facing regional banks that want to bulk up in the state.

First Community Bancshares' $40.6 million deal for Peoples Bank of Virginia shows how deals can get done in the slow M&A market and that some can be very simple.

While community banks call on Congress to give the Transaction Account Guarantee more time, an array of - albeit costlier - alternatives for retaining customers and liquidity does exist.

The Federal Reserve Board on Friday issued guidance to community bank examiners on what they should consider when upgrading an institution's supervisory rating.

Community West Bancshares Inc. in Goleta, Calif., is closing its four out-of state Small Business Administration lending offices as part of a broad restructuring plan aimed at reducing risk and improving the company's overall health.

After more than 25 years as national bank, Equity Bank in Andover, Kan., is switching to a state charter.

First Community Bancshares Inc. in Bluefield, Va., is bulking up in the Richmond market with a deal to acquire the $286 million-asset Peoples Bank in Virginia for about $40.6 million in cash and stock.

GFA Federal Credit Union of Gardener, Mass., has agreed to acquire Monadnock Community Bank, a troubled former credit union located in nearby Peterborough, N.H., in the second credit union deal for a bank over the past few months.

One has to admire the tenacity of the credit union lobby. Once again, a handful of very large credit unions are putting pressure on Congressional officials to pass legislation that will increase credit unions' business lending authority from 12.5 percent of their total assets to 27.5 percent. The commercial banking industry has fought off similar attempts for such expansion in previous Congressional sessions and we are working hard to do so once again.

A decision by a Georgia judge this week raised new obstacles in the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s claims against former managers of the failed Integrity Bank.

Rich trading multiples for banking companies like Prosperity in Houston make accretive acquisitions relatively simple. Institutions with such powerful stock currencies are few, however.

The slow M&A market gives the Pennsylvania bank little choice but to digest its two acquisitions and wait for conditions to improve, CEO Reuter says.