National Penn Bancshares (NPBC) in Allentown, Pa., dropped out of the auction Tuesday afternoon after U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge David Rice agreed to reopen bidding for First Mariner.

CARS Inc. and others in the CDFI industry hope that making financial data easier to obtain will spur more people to invest in the sector.

The most notable quotes from American Banker stories of the previous week. Readers are encouraged to add their own observations in the Comments fields at the bottom of each slide.

Poage Bankshares (PBSK) in Ashland, Ky., and an activist investor have sent competing letters to shareholders ahead of next month's annual meeting.

Westamerica Bancorp. (WABC) in San Rafael, Calif., reported a dip in profits because of fewer customer transactions and a decline in loan revenue.

Needham Bank in Massachusetts will have a new chief executive next year.

The conventional wisdom has always been: prepaid card customers will pay a fee for mobile check deposit, but bank customers won't. A year ago, Regions Bank decided to charge a fee to both audiences and has monitored the results.

New Jersey Community Bank in Freehold (NJCB) has revised its fourth-quarter and annual results for 2013 to reflect a non-recurring $2 million litigation charge.

Bank of the Ozarks (OZRK) in Little Rock, Ark., said that its first-quarter earnings climbed 26% from the same period last year, to $25.3 million, thanks largely to strong loan growth and an accounting gain stemming from its March acquisition of Texas of Bancshares.

Washington Federal (WAFD) in Seattle reported higher quarterly profit because of an improved deposit mix, increased fee income and loan growth.

Live Oak Bancshares is planning an initial public offering that could yield as much as $86 million for the Wilmington, N.C., company and its shareholders.

Heritage Bancorp in Pearland, Texas, has agreed to buy Nixon State Bank in Nixon, Texas.

CB Financial Services (CBFV) in Carmichaels, Pa., has agreed to buy FedFirst Financial (FFCO) in Monessen, Pa.

Joseph Stilwell used a photo of the then-chairman of Harvard Illinois snoozing at last year's annual meeting as part of his fight for representation on the board. Harvard's board accused Stilwell of waging his battle "in the gutter."

The company, which was an active acquirer before the financial crisis, has returned to its roots after a long hiatus brought on by the downturn and integration problems. Archie Brown, who became CEO in 2008, says the company is taking a more disciplined approach this time.

First Mariner's holding company, First Mariner Bancorp (FMAR), filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February as part of a $100 million recapitalization plan.

Kenneth Lehman is getting ready to increase his stake in Liberty Bell Bank (LBBB) in Marlton, N.J.

People who lack a credit or work history in the United States may have trouble getting a mortgage under the new qualified-mortgage rule, bankers say. A number of immigrants are self-employed, which makes it even harder to qualify.

Two former executives of Sonoma Valley Bank have been indicted for their alleged involvement in a $9.5 million fraud scheme.

BofI Holding (BOFI) in San Diego has agreed to buy certain assets and all the deposits of H&R Block Bank.