David Earls, a financial adviser at Workers' Credit Union, says a series of misconceptions by other advisers about blue-collar people has helped his business to thrive.

Minority banks have a central role to play in our nation's future economic growth, but first they must respond to two challenges — the unprecedented collapse in real estate values and the wave of consolidation sweeping through the banking system.

Circumstances beyond its control drove Sallie Mae into retail banking, but the venture, once a stopgap, is now the cornerstone of its survival strategy.

Though banks surveyed by the Federal Reserve have reported a gradual loosening of credit standards in recent quarters, it may be a while before lending standards return to normal.

Regulators failed four banks late Friday, pushing the total number of collapses this year to 143. Closures are now are at their highest point since the S&L crisis.

The Office of Thrift Supervision has given Superior Bancorp of Birmingham, Ala., until the end of March to strengthen capital ratios significantly.

The largest shareholder of Sterling Bancshares Inc. is preparing for a proxy contest to overhaul the Houston company's board.

The private-equity commitments that Central Pacific Financial Corp. of Honolulu touted in its Nov. 2 earnings release have been finalized.

Beneficial Mutual Bancorp Inc. posted a surprise third-quarter loss on Oct. 22 from an unexpected, and unwelcome, event: its charging off of the decline in collateral values for all of its criticized loans.

North American Financial Holdings Inc. is set to pick up a big chunk of a North Carolina bank in a bid to build a Southeast powerhouse.

A handful of small banks have also struck deals recently that will heighten their name recognition and allow them to cull customers out of massive audiences.

A bankruptcy judge allowed AmericanWest to move forward with plans to hold an auction for its bank, despite an objection from a hedge fund attempting to impede the deal.

When all is said and done, home values will likely increase and foreclosed properties will likely experience the greatest benefit of this given their less-expensive price tags.

Herald National Bank has turned a profit less than two years after being started at the height of the financial crisis.

Carolina Bank Holdings Inc. reported a third-quarter loss Tuesday of $2.1 million, compared to a $110,000 loss a year earlier.

Tower Bancorp Inc. and First Chester County Corp. have extended for a third time the deadline for completing their merger.

Private-equity firms are showing more confidence that credit-quality problems are ebbing. Several recent capital infusions have caught the eye of analysts, especially an announcement on Monday by Brand Group Holdings Inc.

There is a sales group that is more hard core than car salesmen. I'm talking about Girl Scouts. In the eyes of the recipients of their sales pitches, you're a pushy salesperson.

The $4.2 billion-asset Honolulu company said in a press release Tuesday that it has been working with a private-equity investor for a $98 million infusion and "is in the process of seeking to finalize an agreement for such an investment by the end of the week."

Charter Oak Bank of Napa, Calif., which is under regulatory pressure to raise capital, has agreed to be sold to Bay Commercial Bank in nearby Walnut Creek for $2.3 million.