Easier access to credit helped boost small businesses' optimism in the third quarter to its highest point since the recession began, according to a survey released Tuesday.

The chief operating officer of Northrim BanCorp (NRIM) in Anchorage, Alaska, has resigned because of health issues.

BankUnited in Miami Lakes, Fla., has joined with a factoring company to provide funding to small businesses.

Government authorities say that 70 million Americans are either underbanked and unbanked. Yet many of these people are well served by the financial system. American Banker staffers discuss whether the issue of the financially underserved is overblown and if so what may be behind the trend.

The former chairman and chief executive of Summit Bank in Burlington, Wash., on Wednesday pleaded guilty to hiding millions of dollars in losses from past-due loans.

Despite better-than-expected returns so far, industry observers believe that the Treasury Department will take larger haircuts at is unloads less desirable stakes in banks.

FPB Financial in Port St. Lucie, Fla., has declared a 3-for-1 stock split in an effort to bolster trading activity.

A pair of prominent investors are pursuing opposing strategies in their bank investments: Warren Buffett is buying, while David Einhorn is cutting back.

VantageSouth Bancshares in Raleigh, N.C., plans to sell up to $50 million of preferred stock to leave the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

FNBH desperately needs capital after regulators shot down a plan that had a hefty percentage of debt. The company is hoping an equity infusion by a big investor will help it get on track.

Delmar Bancorp is giving up a 40% stake in itself to an outside investor, who will cancel Tarp shares he won in a Treasury auction. The investor will also invest cash and forgive unpaid Tarp dividends.

The chief executive of Golden Pacific Bancorp in Sacramento has left the company.

Sterling Financial, which has 173 branches in Washington, Oregon, California, and Idaho, announced the launch of its free mobile app on Tuesday.

Free checking accounts are on the wane at traditional banks, according to a MoneyRates.com survey released Monday. But customers can still avoid monthly maintenance fees at a majority of online banks.

Monona State Bank in Wisconsin has begun using Encompass360, Ellie Mae's system for managing mortgage originations and servicing, the financial technology company announced Tuesday.

First National Bank announced Tuesday that it's made a $300,000 investment in the Colorado Enterprise Fund's Early Stage Loan Pool.

Signature Bank (SBNY) in New York has added to its national sales staff for specialty finance.

Community Bankers Trust (ESXB) in Glen Allen, Va., has agreed to sell its Georgia operations to Community & Southern Holdings in Atlanta.

Banks rely on their names to create stable, trustworthy images. Unfortunately, their copy-cat tactics also create confusion and demonstrate a lack of creativity, branding experts say. Here are some notable, overused examples.

F.N.B. Corp. (FNB) will cut 57 jobs at PVF Capital (PVFC) in October after it buys the Solon, Ohio, thrift company.