Hundreds of community banks and thrifts that were among the first to sell trust-preferred securities through investment pools could soon be looking to refinance.

Heartland Financial USA Inc. of Dubuque, Iowa, has lowered its first-quarter earnings by $1.2 million, to $4.5 million.

Colorado lawmakers have approved the creation of a statewide identity theft task force that would include bankers.

NBC Capital Corp. in Starkville, Miss., said Thursday that it plans to raise about $46.8 million in a public offering.

A traditional Texas bank's experiment in automated banking is showing signs of promise.

The $1.1 billion-asset Mercantile Bancorp Inc. in Quincy, Ill., announced Thursday that it had restated its first-quarter earnings after reaching an out-of-court settlement with a brokerage firm that had sued it.

Vineyard National Bancorp in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., said Thursday that it plans to raise $31.8 million by selling 1.2 million shares of common stock to three institutional investors in a direct offering.

NEW ENGLAND

National Mercantile Bancorp of Los Angeles said its first-quarter profit rose 40% from a year earlier on strong loan and deposit growth.

After several years of groundwork, a nonprofit in Minneapolis that teams up with small banks to make bigger loans to growing business customers is looking to take its model to other states.

Most financial institutions are being squeezed to some degree by the combination of a flat yield curve and rising interest rates, but thrifts are feeling the most pain.

MB Financial Inc. in Chicago has a reputation as a strong commercial loan generator, and Illinois' First Oak Brook Bancshares Inc. is known as a skilled deposit gatherer.

AUSTIN — Among the sticking points in merger talks between the Independent Bankers Association of Texas and the Texas Bankers Association is which national trade group to affiliate with.

The Banc Corp. in Birmingham, Ala., announced its second acquisition deal in two months Monday, saying it had agreed to buy the $566 million-asset Community Bancshares Inc. in Blountsville, Ala., for $98 million in cash and stock.

Hancock Holding Corp. of Gulfport, Miss., and Whitney Holding Corp. of New Orleans gave updates Monday on their recovery from Hurricane Katrina

First State Bancorp of Albuquerque said a higher loan-loss provision and costs associated with two recent acquisitions dampened first-quarter profits.

Adding another twist to an already intriguing hostile takeover story, the executive who ran the New York bank that was targeted is defecting to the losing bidder.

Cowlitz Bancorp. in Longview, Wash., said its first-quarter net income rose 65% from the same quarter last year, to $1 million, as a result of strong loan and deposit growth.

Signature Bank in New York said Friday that its first-quarter earnings rose 39% from the same quarter last year, to $8 million.