Westamerica Bancorp. of San Rafael, Calif., reported a 90% surge in second-quarter earnings Tuesday as a recent acquisition and lower short-term interest rates more than offset increased credit costs.

On the heels of reporting a second-quarter loss due to rising credit problems, CoBiz Financial Inc. in Denver is raising $45 million of capital with an eye toward possible acquisitions.

Blank-check companies have had a hard time buying banks in the past, but a pair of deals announced Tuesday could signal more to come.

Observers say lower prices for banks and adesperation for capital have given these investors more incentive toget involved in the industry now.

The flailing Guaranty Financial Group Inc. of Austin has a new chief executive officer and chief financial officer.

Territorial Bancorp Inc. of Honolulu is off to a flying start.

Looking busy may be the best hope for Temecula Valley Bancorp Inc.

Presented with a difficult choice between two risks — angering depositors or effectively extending a loan to crisis-stricken California — banks have varied widely in their willingness to accept IOUs the state has issued to their customers.

Capitol Bancorp Ltd. plans to divest itself of the Bank of Santa Barbara to an investor group led by California banker Eloy Ortega in an effort to strengthen Capitol's equity and core capital ratios.

Capitol Bancorp Ltd.'s latest divestiture deal underscores just how far the company has retreated from its original strategy.

MIDDLE ATLANTIC

As financial institutions across the country confront mounting piles of repossessed properties, Sovereign Bank in Dallas is using an unusual strategy to clear its inventory and clean up its balance sheet.

To the Editor:

Chris Bauer, who took the helm last month at Anchor BanCorp Wisconsin, has a plan to shore up the listing Madison company, but acknowledges he may not have enough time to execute it.

Federal banking regulators have reached an agreement with Amboy Bancorp. through which the New Jersey bank has pledged to take actions aimed at strengthening its capital position.

Lee Bradley, who has spent much of the last two decades raising start-up capital for banks, is turning his energies to recapitalizing them.

The uber-capitalized Iberiabank Corp. may soon have a way to put its extra cash to work.

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The struggling Irwin Financial Corp. is selling branches and loans to buy time as it negotiates with the government to come to its rescue.