The number of banks missing the deadline for making dividend payments under the Troubled Asset Relief Program continued to rise in February.

Small merchants have found that using a mobile payments system from Bling Nation is a good good way to boost revenue — and local banks have seen the benefit in increased deposits.

Glacier Bancorp Inc. of Kalispell, Mont., says it may use proceeds from a common stock offering to acquire failed banks, a strategy that management had previously left off the table.

Regulators closed seven banks Friday, including the largest bank subsidiary of bankrupt Advanta Corp. Resolving the banks, which held a combined $3.3 billion in assets, will cost the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. $1.3 billion. The year's failure tally now stands at 37, or more than double the number at this point last year.

Regulators closed seven banks Friday, including the largest bank subsidiary of bankrupt Advanta Corp. Resolving the banks, which held a combined $3.3 billion in assets, will cost the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. $1.3 billion. The year's failure tally now stands at 37, or more than double the number at this point last year.

WASHINGTON — Acknowledging that regulatory guidance to limit banks' concentration in commercial real estate has failed, Comptroller of the Currency John Dugan said Friday that the banking agencies will issue new, tougher standards.

Regulators closed three banks Friday, including the largest bank subsidiary of bankrupt Advanta Corp., to bring the year's failure toll to 33.

Regulators closed three banks Friday, including the largest bank subsidiary of bankrupt Advanta Corp., to bring the year's failure toll to 33.

Encore Bancshares in Houston is paying to get out of Florida. The $1.6 billion-asset company announced an agreement last week to sell its six Florida branches, with $231 million in deposits and $86.2 million in loans, in two deals that will cost the company $1 million.

Encore Bancshares Inc. in Houston is paying to get out of Florida. The $1.6 billion-asset company announced an agreement last week to sell its six Florida branches, with $231 million in deposits and $86.2 million in loans, in two deals that will cost the company $1 million.

Roma Financial Corp. in Robbinsville, N.J., announced Thursday that it has agreed to acquire the struggling Sterling Banks Inc. of Mount Laurel, N.J., for $14.7 million in cash, or $2.52 per share.

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Britton & Koontz Capital Corp. of Natchez, Miss., has revised its fourth-quarter results to reflect a loss instead of a gain.

Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania Inc. reported on Thursday a fourth-quarter loss of $10.1 million and that it is has entered into a written agreement with the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.

Sandy Spring Bancorp in Olney, Md., on Thursday announced pricing for a common stock offering expected to raise at least $87.7 million.

The $667 million-asset bank, in danger of failing with more than 10% of its assets not performing, was under orders from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to more than double its leverage ratio by early February and then take it up another notch by March 8. But the agency gave the Korean-focused subsidiary of Saehan Bancorp more time, and after several false starts, the bank raised $60.5 million.

Comptroller of the Currency John Dugan offered a gloomy view of the industry's health and said Wednesday that regulators will not hesitate to crack down on troubled lenders.

ShoreBank Corp. in Chicago announced Wednesday that veteran Chicago banker David Vitale is set to become its executive chairman should it raise the capital it needs.

With four of the Pacific Northwest's larger community players warning that they may not survive, the region is solidifying its reputation as a hub for problem banks and failures.

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