First-quarter earnings at SVB Financial Group in Santa Clara, Calif., nearly doubled from a year earlier, to $33 million, largely because of a release of loan-loss reserves.

Unsuccessful in its efforts to raise fresh capital and already operating under multiple enforcement orders, embattled Mercantile Bancorp could be on the verge of failure.

After making two major acquisitions in as many months, Community Bancorp LLC says it's in no hurry to spend the rest of its war chest.

For the first time in three years, the three banks of Western Alliance Bancorporation in Phoenix all turned a profit in the first quarter.

To close on a $36.4 million injection from Priam Capital Fund I LP, 1st Mariner Bancorp must raise another $123.6 million — and part ways with Edwin Hale Sr., the company's founder, chairman and chief executive.

National Penn Bancshares Inc. in Boyertown, Pa., reported a big increase in profits on Thursday, which it attributed largely to improved credit.

Umpqua Holdings Corp. in Portland, Ore., on Thursday reported a first-quarter profit after recording its lowest loan-loss provision since mid-2007.

Norwood Financial Corp. in Honesdale, Pa., said late Wednesday that its pending acquisition of North Penn Bancorp Inc. reduced its profitability.

First Niagara Financial Group Inc. in Buffalo, N.Y., reported a slight dip in earnings compared with the previous quarter as it completed its acquisition of NewAlliance Bancshares Inc.

The $4.41 billion-asset company said Thursday that shareholders had approved adding Allison Nickle Egidi, Najeeb Khan and Christopher Murphy to the board.

Sandy Spring Bancorp Inc. in Olney, Md., on Thursday reported an increase in profit due to its exit from the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Republic Bancorp Inc. in Louisville, Ky., reported higher first-quarter profit despite lower volume in its controversial refund-anticipation loan business.

Whitney Holding Corp. in New Orleans reported a profitable first quarter on Thursday, a day after the company that is buying it did the same.

Fulton Financial Corp. in Lancaster, Pa., attributed its improved first-quarter earnings partly to better cost control. The $16 billion-asset company posted a 22.9% increase in profit from a year earlier, to $33.8 million.

Hancock Holding Co. in Gulfport, Miss., said its earnings rose 11% from a year earlier. The $8.31 billion-asset company posted earnings of $15.3 million, compared with $13.8 million a year earlier.

Earlier this month, the Federal Reserve issued a prompt corrective action directive giving the bank 60 days to become adequately capitalized by raising capital or selling itself.

This proposal could remove a critical source of liquidity throughout the country — member institutions could be required to hold at least 10% of their assets in mortgages.

Brookline Bancorp in Massachusetts will pay $234 million in cash and stock for Bancorp Rhode Island in a transaction that will create a company with nearly $5 billion in assets.

The Buffalo, N.Y., company said that the $1.5 billion purchase created a bank with over $30 billion of assets and $18 billion of deposits in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and New York.

The Federal Reserve has terminated an enforcement action against Currie Bancorp of Minnesota. Currie, the parent of the $44.9 million-asset Currie State Bank, had been operating under a written agreement since November 2008.