Many bankers have complained that valuing real estate has become more of a guessing game these days, but few have gone so far as Hugh Potts Jr., the chairman and chief executive officer of First M&F Corp. in Kosciusko, Miss.

Sterling Financial Corp. in Spokane had good news and bad news about its first-quarter loss of $24.8 million.

Still struggling with rising loan losses, Capitol Bancorp Ltd. is now looking to sell some of its 53 banks.

Though many community banking companies are expanding in mortgages, the start-up First Texas BHC Inc. is going further than most by offering second liens on million-dollar homes.

Whitney Holding Corp. in New Orleans swung to a net loss of $11.1 million, or 22 cents a share, in the first quarter as credit costs continued to escalate.

Teens and young adults face stark economic realities. Job prospects are limited. In today's tighter credit environment, getting a credit card, buying a car and saving for the down payment on a first home will likely require patience. Achieving financial independence will take longer.

Loan quality continued to deteriorate at United Community Banks Inc. in Blairsville, Ga., contributing to its third consecutive quarterly loss and a decision to cut its staff by 9%, or 191 people.

Nonperforming assets shot up dramatically at Frontier Financial Corp. in Everett, Wash., resulting in a first-quarter loss of $33.8 million, or 72 cents per share.

Strategic Capital Bancorp Inc. in Champaign, Ill., has until June to come up with a plan to replenish capital, under its most recent regulatory order.

Though loans and deposits grew, Susquehanna Bancshares Inc. in Lititz, Pa., said Wednesday that its first-quarter profit plummeted 93%, to $1.9 million, or 2 cents a share.

First-quarter earnings at Cullen/Frost Bankers Inc. in San Antonio slid 15% from a year earlier, to $45 million.

International Bancshares Corp. in Laredo, Texas, has proven that repurchasing common shares is not out of the question for recipients of government capital.

MIDWEST

Shares of BancorpSouth Inc. surged Tuesday after the $13.5 billion-asset Tupelo, Miss., company reported earnings that beat analysts' expectations.

After paying dividends on its government capital and hiking its provision for loan losses, Fulton Financial Corp. in Lancaster, Pa., said late Tuesday its first-quarter profit fell 81% from a year earlier, to $8.1 million, or 5 cents a share.

The deeply troubled Michigan Heritage Bancorp Inc. in Farmington Hills has lost its angel investor.

Finally, a banking company has something good to say about the Treasury Department's Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Nara Bancorp Inc. said Tuesday that it swung to a first-quarter loss of $3.2 million, or 16 cents a share, because of a higher loan-loss provision.

More community banking companies are abandoning student lending.