President Obama will announce a series of initiatives today aimed at boosting credit to small businesses, an administration official said, as the White House tries to address a complicated issue many believe is a drag on the economy.

After years of idling, Florida Shores Bancorp Inc. is shifting into high gear with a new strategy that reflects changes in the regulatory and economic environment since the company's founding.

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In what it is calling a first step toward replenishing its capital, Mercantile Bancorp Inc. in Quincy, Ill., said it intends to merge its flailing Florida bank with a stronger unit.

Instead of taking a wait-and-see approach, financial institutions should be in the business of connecting with their customers with responsible and transparent communications targeted at a variety of stakeholders, including employees, depositors and other customers.

As other banking companies ready third-quarter results, at least two are being forced by regulators to restate their second-quarter figures, with serious consequences.

Hancock Holding in Gulfport, Miss., has begun a $150 million common stock offering, just after reporting that its third-quarter earnings slipped 4.9% from the year earlier, but rose 10.7% from the second quarter, to $15.2 million.

In reporting third-quarter earnings of $6.9 million, Hudson Valley Holding in Yonkers, N.Y., said a $90 million common stock offering it has in the works was prompted partly by regulators.

If at first you don't succeed, go hostile? That's Porter Bancorp Inc.'s strategy as the $1.7 billion-asset company pursues the $339 million-asset Citizens First Corp. in Bowling Green, Ky.

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Regulators have strengthened an order against Second Federal Savings and Loan in Chicago, directing the $251 million-asset thrift to hold more capital than usually expected of institutions.

People's United Financial in Bridgeport, Conn., is close to making an acquisition, Philip Sherringham, its president and CEO, said on an earnings conference call Friday.

Just three months after saying its problems had begun to level off, Sterling Financial Corp. in Spokane, Wash., unexpectedly ousted its longtime leader and was ordered by regulators to boost capital levels.

WASHINGTON — Community banks would be exempt from enforcement by a new consumer financial protection agency under an amendment approved Thursday by the House Financial Services Committee. Still, industry lobbyists continued to press the panel to weaken a separate provision that would force national banks to comply with state consumer laws.

NEW ENGLAND

With chargeoffs spiking, Umpqua Holdings Corp. in Portland, Ore., lost $10.4 million in the third quarter, disappointing analysts who expected a profit and causing its stock to slip Thursday.

Most struggling bank companies are clamoring for someone, anyone willing to help, but Patriot National Bancorp Inc. is sizing up its suitors.

Third-quarter earnings at Commerce Bancshares Inc. in Kansas City, Mo., surprised analysts — in a good way.

The House Financial Services Committee is expected to pass an amendment this week that would exempt community banks from enforcement by a proposed new consumer ...