Two southern California community banks that have wanted to expand but could not afford meaningful acquisitions are merging as equals.

Ron Stapp went to the Underbanked Financial Services Forum in Chicago last week to learn more about how his bank could offer remittance services to immigrants.

MIDWEST

Chickasaw Banc Holding Co. in Oklahoma City has filed an application with the Federal Reserve Board to acquire AllNations Bancorp. Inc. of Calumet, Okla.

A new 50-year mortgage from Provident Savings Bank in Riverside, Calif., has been a hit with homebuyers, but some competitors dismiss it as a marketing gimmick and say they have no plans to offer it.

Regions Financial Corp.'s acquisition of AmSouth Bancorp could open a door for Alabama banks to scoop up talent and gain market share, bankers and analysts say.

After a smoother-than-expected assimilation of a California bank last year, MetroCorp Bancshares Inc. of Houston is looking for more acquisitions.

STAR Financial Bank in Fort Wayne, Ind., had done well for itself making loans through the Small Business Administration, but things really took off after it signed up with the popular SBA Express.

Experts predict that the already swift rate of conversions to Subchapter S corporations could accelerate as banks move to take advantage of looser federal laws.

Joseph W. Kiley 3d plans to resign as the president and chief executive of First Bank of Beverly Hills.

Mercantile Bancorp Inc. of Quincy, Ill., said Thursday that it stands to make $4 million on First Charter Corp.'s recently announced acquisition of GBC Bancorp Inc.

For more information on this data, visit Novantas LLC and Market Rates Insight.

Heavily criticized for its response to last year's Gulf Coast hurricanes, the Small Business Administration has added some bench strength to help get it through future disasters.

Alliance Bank of Broomhall, Pa., plans to pursue a partial second-step conversion, stopping short of a full public offering.

NEW ENGLAND

Banner Corp. of Walla Walla, Wash., announced Wednesday that it will receive a $5.5 million insurance settlement related to a check-kiting scheme involving a former senior lending officer.

For a company that has struggled with credit-quality problems in the past, Citizens Banking Corp. of Flint, Mich., has no reservations about moving into the risky business of asset-based lending.

Community bank advocates are pressing federal regulators to count contracts for core deposits as capital just the way they let larger banks count other intangible assets such as purchase mortgage servicing rights and purchase credit card receivables.