Personal visits from the company president, special training for those making the leap to supervisor, notes of encouragement from the boss and from staffers - the institutions on American Banker's list of the Best Banks to Work For offer up interesting examples of what companies can do to boost employee engagement at the office.

The stock exchange has accepted the $136 million-asset company's plan to recapitalize itself and will allow it to remain listed, OptimumBank said Friday.

Heritage Oaks Bancorp in Paso Robles, Calif., is a lesson in seizing the moment. It went on the M&A offensive just weeks after being freed from a regulatory order, is poised to become No. 2 in market share in San Luis Obispo County and sees major cost-cutting opportunities.

Provident Financial Services (PFS) in Iselin, N.J., reported nearly flat quarterly earnings after taking a tax charge associated with its 2003 initial public offering.

Refer credit-challenged mom-and-pops to nonbank lenders and eventually those small businesses will be viable enough to qualify for bank loans, industry experts say.

MBT Financial Corp. (MBTF) in Monroe, Mich., is planning to raise up to $20 million in a common stock offering.

Analysts are concerned that a number of banks have been reluctant to cut costs. In some instances, banks are still hiring in hopes of boosting income.

First Scottsdale Bank (FSB) in Scottsdale, Ariz., and CBOA Financial (CBOF) in Tucson, Ariz., have terminated plans to merge.

Southside Bancshares (SBSI) in Tyler, Texas, posted a dip in third-quarter earnings because of a big decline in gains from the sale of securities.

National Penn Bancshares (NPBC) in Boyertown, Pa., reported a slightly lower quarterly profit as its mortgage fees fell, but it still met Wall Street's earnings forecasts.

TCF Financial Corp. (TCB) in Wayzata, Minn., met Wall Street's quarterly earnings estimates as lower charges related to bad assets made up for a decline in revenue.

SouthCrest Financial Group (SCSG) in Peachtree City, Ga., has raised nearly $18 million and plans to merge its banks.

Hancock Holding (HBHC) in Gulfport, Miss., reported lower quarterly earnings after taking a charge tied to branch closures and other expense reductions.

Coast Bancorp (CTBP) in San Luis Obispo, Calif., has hired a new chief financial officer.

National Bank Holdings (NBHC) in Greenwood Village, Colo., cut expenses to compensate for lower revenue in the third quarter.

First Financial Bancorp (FFBC) in Cincinnati posted lower profits in the third quarter on reduced loan and other revenue.

The $17 billion-asset company said late Thursday that Patrick Barrett will succeed Charles Nugent, who is retiring at the end of this year.

SVB Financial (SVB) in Santa Clara, Calif., reported a 60% increase in quarterly profit after investment securities it holds rose more than ninefold in value.

Nobody has told banks in the northwestern U.S. that bank M&A is in the doldrums. Two deals were announced and another terminated there after the markets closed Wednesday, and that will put pressure on banks in the region to keep buying each other.