A number of community banks took sizeable hits during the financial crisis due to dealings in participation loans. As more banks to reconsider these loans, some industry observers wonder if banks will stay disciplined.

First Bancorp (FBNC) in Southern Pines, N.C., saw its earnings nearly double in the first quarter from a year earlier behind higher net interest margin, lower provision for loan losses and higher fee income.

Ocean Bank in Miami has been freed from an enforcement action by state and federal regulators.

A recap of the informed opinions (and the discussions they generated) on BankThink this week.

South Carolina-based CertusBank attracted a half billions dollars in commitments to buy failed banks in the wake of the financial crisis. How the early high hopes have been dashed offers important lessons to the industry, regulators and outside investors.

The Colorado state legislature could decide soon if a new type of financial services co-operative — though not a credit union — will be created to serve the marijuana industry in the state.

Floridian Financial Group in Lake Mary, Fla., is merging its subsidiaries, Orange Bank of Florida in Orlando and Floridian Bank in Daytona Beach, under the Floridian Bank name.

S&T Bancorp (STBA) in Indiana, Pa., saw its first-quarter profits rise 14% from the same period last year, to $14 million, due to organic loan growth, and improved expense control and asset quality.

CertusBank in Greenville, S.C., continues to lose money, largely because of high expenses. The $1.6 billion-asset company lost $9 million in the first quarter, according to a call report filed with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

Confusion over regulatory jurisdiction and burdensome compliance costs are cutting into community banks' profits and forcing them to consolidate. But it doesn't have to be this way.

Sterling Bancorp (STL) in Montebello, N.Y., said that its fiscal second-quarter profit rose 58% after it expanded through its merger with Provident New York Bancorp.

M&T Bank (MTB) and federal law enforcement officials have begun a fraud investigation into a former loan officer at the Buffalo, N.Y., bank.

MB Financial's acquisition of Taylor Capital is facing a potential delay as regulators examine Cole Taylor Bank for a possible violation of a section of the Federal Trade Commission Act.

Four nonbank lenders have agreed to reimburse consumers and pay penalties in connection with medical loans that violated New York usury and other laws, state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said Wednesday.

BOK Financial (BOKF) in Tulsa, Okla., reported lower net income as mortgage activity declined.

Banks issued at least $12.3 billion in subordinated debt last year, far more than what they issued in any year since the financial crisis. A big factor is investor demand, which has been stimulated by a need for higher-yielding holdings.

United Bankshares' (UBSI) earnings increased during the first quarter, with support from the completion of its Virginia Commerce Bancorp acquisition and sale of one of its own branches.

EverBank Financial (EVER) in Jacksonville, Fla., said that first-quarter earnings fell 18% from a year earlier, to $32 million. Earnings per share of 23 cents beat the average estimate of analysts polled by Bloomberg by 2 cents.

A bipartisan coalition of lawmakers is pushing the Obama administration to nominate someone with community banking experience to the Federal Reserve Board.

In a highly unusual initiative, small community bank Independence Bancshares has been building a real-time transactions processing system. CEO Gordon Baird hopes to attract others to use it, too.