Rejected by the Office of Thrift Supervision in its bid to become a 100% stock-owned company, New Jersey mutual holding company Clifton Savings Bancorp is taking its chances with its new regulator, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

The state's banking market is still seriously impaired, but foreign banks are increasingly attracted to it for the same reason — and their arrival may feed the turnaround.

First PacTrust Bancorp Inc. in Chula Vista, Calif., is looking to raise up to $30 million in fresh capital that it could use to support its growth.

Rejected by the Office of Thrift Supervision in its bid to become a 100% stock-owned company, New Jersey mutual holding company Clifton Savings Bancorp is taking its chances with its new regulator, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

First Financial Holdings Inc. in Charleston, S.C., has agreed to buy five South Carolina branches from Liberty Savings Bank. The $3.3 billion-asset First Financial will buy $109.5 million in deposits and $27 million in performing loans as part of the deal.

Teche Holding Co. in New Iberia, La., said Wednesday that it has completed the charter conversion for Teche Federal Bank. The $782 million-asset company switched its unit to a state bank from a federally chartered thrift in a move that will reduce the company's regulatory fees by $100,000 annually.

Anchor Commercial Bank in Juno Beach, Fla., is close to raising $20 million in capital from a group of South Florida investors.

Western Liberty Bancorp Inc. in Las Vegas has hired Sandler O'Neil & Partners LP to search for strategic alternatives, including a possible sale, just eight after the special-purpose acquisition company completed its first bank acquisition.

Porter Bancorp Inc. was able to avoid trouble during the darkest days of the recession, only to show up on its regulator's radar screen as many other banks are recovering.

The Federal Reserve said Tuesday that it had approved the sale of Centra Financial Holdings Inc. in Morganton, W.Va., to United Bankshares Inc. in Charleston, W.Va.

VSoft Corp. said Tuesday that Park Community Credit Union would use its technology for item capture in its branches.

Provident Financial Holdings Inc. in Riverside, Calif., is back in good standing with its regulator.

A California community bank will be among first financial institutions to participate in the government's $30 billion small-business loan program.

Stacy L. Moran has resigned as chief financial officer at Suffolk Bancorp, just weeks after the Riverhead, N.Y., company announced that it may have to restate earnings for several quarters.

The $14 billion-asset Susquehanna said late Monday that it would pay $343 million for the $2.6 billion-asset Tower.

Provident Bank in Montebello, N.Y., announced Monday that longtime President and Chief Executive Officer George Strayton is retiring and that its board has hired former KeyCorp executive Jack Kopnisky to succeed him.

Shares of Hanmi Financial Corp. fell sharply Monday on news that the Los Angeles company is planning to raise roughly $75 million by selling shares of its common stock.

Now that its private-equity injection is almost a done deal, First BanCorp's natural next move would be to consolidate power in Puerto Rico. Unless it sells itself instead.

PBI Bank in Louisville, Ky., has announced that it expects to enter into a consent agreement with state and federal regulators that will require it reduce its loan concentrations, improve its asset quality and maintain capital levels above regulatory minimums.

Wisconsin credit unions are urging Gov. Scott Walker to strike a provision from the state's budget that would allow state-chartered credit unions to more easily convert to banks.