The eye-popping price that Trustmark Corp. agreed to pay for a Houston community bank shows just how eager out-of-state banking companies are to bulk up in one of the country's fastest-growing markets.

Commerce Bancshares Inc. of Kansas City. Mo., announced its second deal in less than two weeks Thursday, when it said it would buy West Pointe Bancorp Inc. of Belleville, Ill., for $80.9 million.

The Office of Thrift Supervision issued a final rule Wednesday revising the definition of "community development" in its Community Reinvestment Act regulations.

In December, Alan B. Levan, BankAtlantic Bancorp Inc.'s chairman and chief executive, said that he would work harder to gather deposits after citing a slowdown in growth during the previous six months.

Farmers Capital Bank Corp. in Frankfort, Ky., has yet another deal for a Kentucky bank company named "Citizens."

NEW ENGLAND

Boyertown, Pa.-based National Penn Bank has its eye on more fee income, and it is using its checkbook to help get it.

East Boston Savings Bank is reaching north into New Hampshire for growth, but it is taking an indirect route.

One of the most common reasons bankers and analysts have given for the slowdown in mergers and acquisitions is what they call sellers' unrealistic expectations for the price they can get.

Members of DFCU Financial Federal Credit Union in Dearborn, Mich., began a petition drive last week to remove all nine of its directors before a June vote on its plan to convert to a mutual savings bank.

PremierWest Bancorp in Medford, Ore., said Monday that its first-quarter profits rose 24% from a year earlier, to $3.3 million.

United Bankshares Inc. of Charleston, W.Va., said it is repositioning its balance sheet by selling securities and paying off debt.

Nevada State Bank in Las Vegas is betting that if it gives small-business owners something for free, they will be so appreciative they will become customers.

Penn Liberty Financial Corp. of Wayne, Pa., said it raised $13.8 million in its second private placement stock offering.

WASHINGTON — Are banks making too much money on their Small Business Administration loans?

Crescent Financial Corp. of Cary, N.C., has agreed to acquire Port City Capital Bank of Wilmington, N.C., for $39.26 million.

WesBanco Inc. of Wheeling, W.Va., said it would take a first-quarter after-tax charge of $4.9 million as part of a balance-sheet restructuring.

Coastal Bancshares Acquisition Corp. of Houston announced Thursday it had agreed to buy Intercontinental Bank Shares Corp. in San Antonio for $16.8 million in cash.

Western Alliance Bancorp in Las Vegas is teaming up with an investor group to start a bank in Oakland, Calif.