Community Bank System Inc. of Syracuse said strong growth in its employee benefits consulting and wealth management business lines helped third-quarter earnings rise 21% from a year earlier, to $14.2 million.

Third-quarter net income at Dime Community Bancshares of Brooklyn, N.Y., fell 26% from a year earlier, to $11.2 million.

Big increases in loans and deposits helped Merrill Merchants Bancshares Inc. report a record quarterly profit of $1.23 million Friday.

CVB Financial Corp. of Ontario, Calif., is acquiring Granite State Bank in Monrovia for $27 million.

Though some of its other initiatives have alienated many of the lenders and borrowers it serves, the Small Business Administration can point to one as an absolute success - its effort to reduce the average size of the loans it guarantees under its flagship 7(a) program.

Carver Bancorp Inc. and Independence Federal Savings Bank in Washington seemed to be a perfect match.

Facing fierce opposition from shareholders, farmers, lawmakers, and most other Farm Credit System lenders, Farm Credit Services of America has terminated its agreement to sell itself to Rabobank Group.

Whitney Holding Corp. of New Orleans announced Wednesday that its third-quarter earnings fell 19.6% from a year earlier, to $22.1 million.

The Ohio Supreme Court has closed a loophole that let many of the state's community banks observe a document-disclosure standard that was decidedly less rigorous than those in most other states.

Partners Trust Financial Group Inc. of Utica, N.Y., announced Tuesday that its third-quarter net income fell 36%, to $2.3 million.

Mercantile Bankshares Corp. of Baltimore announced Tuesday that its third-quarter earnings rose 20%, to $56.8 million.

The South Financial Group Inc. of Greenville, S.C., announced Tuesday that its third-quarter earnings were $31 million, 30% more than a year earlier.

Be nice to politicians. They live in a different world and need your help to understand this one.

Banknorth Group Inc.'s third-quarter earnings missed Wall Street estimates because of slower demand for commercial loans, but executives said it is hiring more loan officers to increase market share.

KeyCorp of Cleveland has completed its purchase of EverTrust Financial Group Inc. of Everett, Wash.

Carver Bancorp Inc. announced Monday that the Office of Thrift Supervision has rejected its application to acquire the $195 million-asset Independence Federal Savings Bank in Washington.

Downey Financial Corp. in Newport Beach, Calif., said that third-quarter earnings fell as it lost money in mortgage servicing, income from real estate investments shrank, and expenses rose.

Texas Regional Bancshares Inc. of McAllen said Monday that its third-quarter net income rose 27% from a year earlier, to $19.8 million.

Harry P. Doherty, the incoming chairman of America’s Community Bankers, says he “gets goosebumps” thinking about the year he will spend leading the trade group.