WASHINGTON - It has been a challenging few months for Hector V. Barreto, but the administrator of the Small Business Administration insists that the heat is not getting to him.

The $6.5 billion-asset Chittenden Corp. in Burlington, Vt., reported fourth-quarter earnings of $21.8 million, 9% more than in the 2004 quarter.

People's Bank of Bridgeport, Conn., said Thursday that fourth-quarter profits rose 26% from a year earlier, to $35.2 million, or 25 cents a share, which met the average analyst estimate.

American River Bankshares in Sacramento, Calif., said Thursday that strong growth in commercial loans and core deposits helped fuel fourth-quarter earnings.

Republic Bancorp Inc. of Louisville said Wednesday that fourth-quarter profits dropped 12% from a year earlier, to $5.8 million.

MIDDLE ATLANTIC

Greater Atlantic Financial Corp. in Reston, Va., a $383 million-asset thrift company, may close or sell its mortgage business.

Farm Credit System lenders are largely confined to making farmland loans, but they have begun to lay the groundwork for legislative and regulatory changes that would enlarge their lending powers.

Corus Bankshares Inc. of Chicago said Tuesday that it had it earned $38.1 million in the fourth quarter, 39.6% more than a year earlier, and per-share earnings rose 32%, to $1.32, beating the average of analysts' estimates by 8 cents.

Texas Regional Bancshares Inc. said its fourth-quarter net income was up 9.6% from a year earlier, to $22.8 million, despite a 92% rise in chargeoffs, to $7.5 million.

Main Street Banks Inc. of Atlanta said it earned $7.7 million in the fourth quarter, 10% less than a year earlier.

A bank set to open this spring in a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood in New York’s South Bronx will try to attract customers by operating as a check casher too.

When Texas Capital Bank in Dallas was founded in 1998, it set a record by raising $80 million of initial capital. Now its founders want to help create carbon copies of Texas Capital in other cities.

Premier Community Bankshares Inc. of Winchester, Va., has agreed to buy Albemarle First Bank of Charlottesville for $29 million in cash and stock.

Camden National Corp. in Maine said Thursday that it is combining its two banks, Camden National Bank and UnitedKingfield Bank, into a single unit under the Camden National name.

Heartland Financial USA Inc. of Dubuque, Iowa, announced Thursday that it is buying Bank of the Southwest of Tempe, Ariz., for $18 million in cash.

Cascade Bancorp Inc. of Bend, Ore., said Thursday that its fourth-quarter earnings rose 50% year over year, to $6.8 million.

This month Diana L. Taylor, the New York State banking superintendent, designated part of northern Harlem as a "banking development district" under a program meant to stimulate development in low-income communities.

First Homestead Inc. of Homestead, Fla., announced that it has agreed to sell itself to Hometown of Homestead Inc., a newly formed private holding company.