S&T Bancorp Inc. of Indiana, Pa., says cutting its dividend by roughly half will help it protect its capital and eventually jettison its government investment.

In recent months Congress, the Obama administration, regulators and the news media have rightfully joined the chorus of state regulators praising community banks for their role in stabilizing the financial services industry and the economy as a whole.

Ordered by regulators to boost capital levels immediately, Frontier State Bank in Oklahoma City has sold a chunk of its securities portfolio, returning it to well capitalized status.

Two California trade groups announced Monday that they have merged. The Independent Community Bankers of America said its California Independent Bankers merged with the Community Bankers of California to form a group named California Independent Bankers.

Two weeks after announcing it had withdrawn its application for a capital infusion from the Treasury Department, Hanmi Financial Corp. in Los Angeles said it has struck a deal for an infusion from a Korean firm.

Troubled banks usually do not call attention to themselves, but Union Bank of Gilbert, Ariz., had little left to lose.

It's plan B for the organizers of Xenith Corp. in Richmond, Va. — and that B now stands for buy.

In its waning hours on June 5, Bank of Lincolnwood sent a state judge an SOS.

Some of the Small Business Administration's most crucial partners are the thousands of lenders that underwrite billions of dollars in SBA loans every year. Together, we are helping America's small businesses keep their doors open while growing and creating jobs.

NEW ENGLAND

Even if the line to buy failed banks grows longer, Tom C. Nichols and Don E. Cosby say they'll stay on it.

When brainstorming over the winter about potential mascots for a children's savings program, First Arkansas Bank and Trust's marketing team considered the usual suspects: superheroes, Barney the dinosaur, cartoon characters and the like.

Heritage Commerce Corp. in San Jose said it no longer intends to buy two branches from Wells Fargo & Co.

Hanmi Financial Corp. in Los Angeles has withdrawn its application to participate in the Treasury Department's Troubled Asset Relief Program after conferring with its regulators.

Some well-known Texas bankers say that they plan to start bidding on failed institutions now that they have a shelf charter from the Office of the Comptroller of Currency.

A year after announcing plans to pair a specialty finance business with a Chicago banking company, Castle Creek Capital LLC is giving up on the deal.

The future-of-branching debate — "brick-and-mortar is dead!" "no, expansion is near!" — is back on, but the two sides have more in common than they might think.