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.

First Banks Inc. of St. Louis, reported earnings Thursday of $29 million for the first quarter, up 31% from the same quarter last year. Diluted earnings per share were also up 31%, to $1,202.46.

First Commonwealth Financial Corp. of Indiana, Pa., announced Thursday that it would buy Laurel Capital Group Inc. of Allison Park for $57.5 million.

MainSource Financial Group of Greensburg, Ind., has agreed to buy five Indiana branches from First Financial Bancorp of Hamilton, Ohio.

The 11-year-old Appalachian Bancshares Inc. in Ellijay, Ga., plans to expand out of state for the first time, into North Carolina and Tennessee.

BankAtlantic Bancorp Inc., of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., reported first-quarter earnings of $6.7 million, down 66% from the same quarter last year. Diluted earnings per share were 11 cents, down 65%, and 2 cents below analysts' expectations.

First Bancorp of Indiana in Evansville has a deal to buy Home Building Bancorp Inc. in Washington, Ind., for $11.3 million in cash and stock.

AUSTIN — How Gov. Rick Perry’s tax plan would affect banks depends largely on their asset mix, their real estate holdings, and where and with whom they are doing business.

The $3.4 billion-asset BancFirst Corp. of Oklahoma City is buying the $44 million-asset First Bartlesville Bank of Bartlesville, Okla.

American Banker Texas is now live. All current American Banker susbcribers are entitled to free access. Click here to visit American Banker Texas . A brief article introducing the new service, and the editorial staff supporting it, is below.

Community banks are cashing in on the commercial real estate boom in more ways than one.