PlainsCapital Corp. said Tuesday that it intends to acquire First Southwest Holdings Inc., a financial advisory firm based in its hometown of Dallas.

Nowhere is the angst over the federal government's Capital Purchase Program more dramatic than in South Carolina, whose governor has accused the state's largest banking company of trying to con Uncle Sam.

Irwin Financial Corp. of Columbus, Ind., said its third-quarter loss tripled from a year earlier, to $54 million, or $1.85 a share.

Independent Bank Corp. in Rockland, Mass., which historically has been methodical in its approach to acquisitions, is looking more and more like a dealmaker.

Hiawatha Bancshares Inc. of Hager City, Wis., has agreed to sell itself to a two-year-old investment group, Lake Shore Wisconsin Corp. of Sheboygan.

Anchor BanCorp Wisconsin Inc. in Madison recorded a third-quarter loss of $23.3 million, or $1.11 a share, compared with earnings of $9.3 million, or 44 cents a share, a year earlier.

CapitalSouth Bancorp in Birmingham, Ala., which has lost more than $21 million in the last two quarters on bad real estate loans, has been slapped with an enforcement order requiring it to strengthen its board, improve credit oversight, and hire an independent consultant to evaluate management.

With the economy floundering, perhaps the greatest challenge for banks and thrifts receiving capital infusions from the government is putting the money to use quickly.

Independent Bank Corp. Inc. in Rockland, Mass., announced late Sunday that it is acquiring the $981 million-asset Benjamin Franklin Bancorp Inc. in Franklin, Mass., for about $125 million in stock.

Pacific Capital Bancorp in Santa Barbara, Calif., said Thursday that it lost $47.5 million, or $1.03 a share, as it set aside nearly $64 million for problem loans and took a $22 million impairment charge on accumulated goodwill.

Buoyed by strong loans and deposit growth, EverBank Corp., an online banking company based in Jacksonville, Fla., said its third-quarter earnings rose 12% from a year earlier, to $5.3 million.

The next time you are in a team meeting where the discussion turns to customer service issues, confidently respond, "Within every problem lies opportunity."

When First Citizens Bancshares Inc. in Raleigh wanted to expand into Georgia and Florida in the late 1990s, it decided that its best course was to charter a thrift under a new name.

CapitalSource Inc. in Chevy Chase, Md., said it plans to give up its status as a real estate investment trust and reorganize as a bank holding company.

The bad news continues to pile up for Federal Trust Corp. in Sanford, Fla.

Guaranty Financial Group in Austin swung to a third-quarter loss of $162 million, in part because of continuing trouble with credit quality.

SOUTHEAST

Rarely do banking companies feel the need to write their shareholders to explain quarterly results.

Glacier Bancorp Inc. in Kalispell, Mont., is planning to issue up to 4.6 million shares in a public offering, and it said it would use the proceeds to "fund possible future acquisitions and for general corporate purposes."