Over the past 20 years, a range of companies have been steadily making a grab for businesses that had once been the purview of banks.

Two small New England banks are moving into a line of business few their size have tried. Is this the future of community banking?

The Huffington Post's viral campaign urging people to move deposits from large banks to community banks has generated considerable buzz since it was launched in late December. But will it succeed in helping small banks generate more deposits?

By playing up how they can help create jobs, credit unions are gaining momentum with their effort to increase the cap on member business lending.

Understanding that they are only as healthy as the communities they serve, banks are using their marketing prowess to help clients sell everything from burgers to bikes.

WASHINGTON — For the second Friday in a row, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. relied on new-bank capital to find homes for the operations of failed institutions.

Glacier Bancorp Inc. of Kalispell, Mont., said Friday that its fourth-quarter net earnings fell 44% from a year earlier, to $9.5 million.

Harleysville National Corp. of Pennsylvania announced Friday that its fourth-quarter net income fell 26% year over year, to $2.8 million.

The $11 billion-asset company reported a net loss available to shareholders of $15.7 million, compared with a $69.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2008.

Loan sales helped a growing number of community banks push some of their problems out the door in the fourth quarter.

Loan sales helped a growing number of community banks push some of their problems out the door in the fourth quarter.

Details for a planned $30 billion program to help community banks lend to small businesses are still being worked on, but the Obama administration is leaning toward removing the strings that have scared institutions away from other capital programs.

The $14.8 billion-asset thrift company announced late Wednesday that MatlinPatterson Global Advisors LLC, a New York private-equity firm, injected $300 million into Flagstar as part of a rights offering announced late last year.

Even as many other community banks have recoiled, Iberiabank Corp. lately has been on a growth tear — raising capital, buying four failed banks and picking up lending teams from competitors.

MIDWEST

With nonperforming assets declining and two consecutive profitable quarters under its belt, the Atlanta company is planning for a year of black ink.

Despite three big boosts to capital in 2009, First Financial Bancorp in Cincinnati is looking to amass an even bigger treasure chest of capital this year.

A panel formed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to explore community banking issues is to hold its second meeting Thursday.

Heartland Financial USA Inc. of Dubuque, Iowa, reported a net 2009 loss of $9.2 million for common shareholders, 200% larger than the 2008 loss.