FFLC Bancorp Inc. in Leesburg, Fla., reported fourth-quarter earnings of $2.7 million, 24% higher than a year earlier.

Prompted by the state's bankers, the Kansas Legislature has commissioned an independent committee to review regulatory oversight of Kansas' 98 state-chartered credit unions.

Mike Sterkel, the president of Gold Bank’s Oklahoma City branch, saw the writing on the wall two years ago and did not like the message.

Oak Hill Financial Inc. of Jackson, Ohio, reported a 67% decline in fourth-quarter net income, to $1.05 million.

Republic Bancorp Inc. of Louisville said its fourth-quarter earnings surged 43.5% from a year earlier, to $6.6 million.

National Penn Bancshares Inc. of Boyertown, Pa., said Thursday that it has discovered "irregularities" in certain loan and deposit accounts and as a result is postponing the release of its fourth-quarter and full-year earnings.

Republic Bancorp Inc. of Ann Arbor, Mich., said its fourth-quarter earnings rose 15% from a year earlier, to $16.8 million.

The buzz in investment circles is that Fulton Financial Corp. of Lancaster, Pa., may soon receive a buyout offer that is too good to refuse.

From bake sales to multimillion-dollar contributions, banks of all sizes have been doing their part to provide aid to the tsunami-ravaged areas of southern Asia.

Lester Stroh, a founding director and former chairman of Vineyard National Bancorp in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., died Jan. 8 at age 87, the company said Wednesday.

Mercantile Bank Corp., of Wyoming, Mich., said it earned $4.5 million in the fourth quarter, 48.9% more than a year earlier.

PVF Capital Corp. of Solon, Ohio, said Wednesday that it earned $1.42 million in the October-December quarter, the second of its fiscal year, 5.2% more than a year earlier.

MIDWEST

Pressure on lending margins could dampen profits for two multifamily-loan specialists in the New York metropolitan area, according to Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Inc.

Branches used to be the key to banking. Bankers would brag, "If I open the door on 25 offices each morning and do nothing else, money is bound to flow in."

Fulton Financial Corp. of Lancaster, Pa., has announced plans to acquire SVB Financial Services Inc., of Somerville, N.J.

Though analysts may be more bullish on big-bank stocks in 2005, they also expect it to be a good year for community bank stocks.

WGNB Corp. of Carrollton, Ga., said it earned $1.7 million in the fourth quarter, 16% more than a year earlier,

CNB Holding Inc. of Norcross, Ga., has officially changed its name to First Capital Bancorp Inc. and said it plans to be listed on the Nasdaq exchange soon.