Mercantile Commercial Capital LLC of Florida, which specializes in Small Business Administration 504 loans, often touts the fact that it is not a bank. But eager for cheap deposits to fund its growth, the privately held lender is applying to become one.

MIDWEST

Two weeks after being forced to relinquish his chairmanship, Robert J. Weatherbie has resigned as the chief executive officer of Team Financial Inc. in Paola, Kan.

Signature Bank in New York said Tuesday that it intends to sell 3.5 million shares of its common stock to the public that, at its current share price, could raise more than $100 million.

First National Bank of Greencastle in Pennsylvania has agreed to monitor its lending more closely under a memorandum of understanding with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

Many banks targeting African-Americans have struggled with attracting enough deposits within their communities, but a grassroots organization is trying to offset that trend by urging people to deposit funds in such institutions — even if they live thousands of miles away.

United Community Banks Inc. in Blairsville, Ga., said it secured a $30 million loan to boost its capital position.

State and federal regulators ordered Orion Bancorp Inc. of Naples, Fla., to clear troubled loans off its books quickly, improve its workout procedures, and reduce its concentration of loans to real estate developers.

Republic Bancorp Inc. has never been much of a dealmaker, but with its stock price surging and its coffers full from record profits, the Louisville company is spreading the word that it is interested in buying banks.

Franklin Bank Corp. in Houston has named Alan E. Master, its president since May, as chief executive officer.

Rockland Trust Co. in Massachusetts has raised $30 million in a private placement and said it would use the proceeds to support growth and for general corporate purposes.

Now that Tightwad Bank in Missouri has piqued the interest of tightwads nationwide, it aims to turn more of them into customers.

A group that wants to open a thrift in Miami-Dade County is seeking to raise $11.5 million to $20 million in an initial public offering.

Shares of FirstFed Financial Corp. soared Thursday after an analyst raised questions about what effect naked short-selling might be having on the Los Angeles company's stock.

UMB Financial Corp. in Kansas City, Mo., promoted the president of its asset management unit to head its St. Louis bank.

When USAmeriBank in Largo, Fla., opened with a modest $12 million of capital 18 months ago, it aspired to be no more than a boutique bank in Pinellas County.

MIDDLE ATLANTIC

BankUnited Financial Corp.'s regulator would probably downgrade the company's capital rating if it is unable to raise $400 million of capital, the company has said.

Nearly two months after delaying its annual meeting to avoid a potential proxy contest, Team Financial Inc. of Paola, Kan., has an independent chairman and three new directors.