AUSTIN — Payday lenders in Texas have it pretty good — a special charter lets them charge above-market rates and operate virtually unregulated, but a lobbyist for out-of-state payday lenders hopes the Legislature will make it lucrative for them to do business without this charter.

Lafayette Federal Credit Union, in Kensington, Md., has scrapped its plans to convert to a mutual thrift.

With its latest commitment, of $6 million, BankUnited Financial Corp. of Coral Gables, Fla., has become the largest single investor in a mutual fund that helps support community development initiatives.

UCBH Holdings Inc. of San Francisco has struck its first whole-bank deal for a New York banking company, and the acquisition would help it realize its longtime goal of expanding in mainland China.

Florida Bank Group Inc. in Tampa announced Thursday that it has a deal to buy Bank of Tallahassee for a combination of cash and stock, though it did not disclose the price.

A new Web site that encourages people to e-mail tips on bank robberies has already helped law enforcement officials in Maryland nab a suspect.

Gateway Financial Holdings Inc. of Elizabeth City, N.C., has agreed to buy Bank of Richmond in Virginia for $55.8 million in cash and stock.

The following graphic, which appeared on Jan 8, understated the startup numbers for Minnesota, Oregon, Pennsylvania and South Carolina. The corrected figures are included below.

Lafayette Federal Credit Union, in Kensington, Md., has scrapped its plans to convert to a mutual thrift.

NEW ENGLAND

First Corbin Bancorp Inc. was created just last week through the merger of nine small Kentucky banks and immediately ranks among the state’s 10 largest bank holding companies.

The following graphic, which appeared on Jan 8, understated the startup numbers for Pennsylvania and South Carolina. The corrected figures are included below.

Franklin Bank Corp. in Houston said Monday that its fourth-quarter earnings would be lowered by at least 40 cents a share because of two charges it is taking.

Throughout Lafayette Federal Credit Union's six-month campaign to convert to a mutual thrift, its president and chief executive has refused to respond a chorus of critics alleging that the conversion would only enrich officers and directors. But in an interview with American Banker, Michael Hearne finally fired back at his detractors, arguing that a charter switch is the best way to ensure the Kensington, Md., credit union's continued profitability.

Community Bank System Inc. in DeWitt, N.Y., said Tuesday that it has a deal to buy TLNB Financial Corp. in Tupper Lake, N.Y., for $17.6 million in cash, or $34.75 a share.

ShoreBank Corp. of Chicago announced Tuesday that TIAA-CREF put $22 million in certificates of deposit at the bank, the largest single CD deposit ever made at ShoreBank.

Eastern Bank in Boston has not been much of an acquirer in recent years, but that could change under its new chairman and chief executive, Richard E. Holbrook.

Stanley J. Lukowski did not start his professional life as a banker, but he certainly made his mark as one.

When Hal Russell, the president and chief executive officer of Commencement Bank in Tacoma, decided to get back into banking last year, he made the overwhelmingly popular choice and took a state charter.