Wintrust Financial (WTFC) in Rosemont, Ill., posted higher earnings after pursuing acquisitions.

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Bank Mutual (BKMU) in Milwaukee reported an increase in fourth-quarter earnings because of loan sales and service fees.

A rise in fees and loans propelled People's United Financial in the fourth quarter. The $30.3 billion-asset company said Thursday that earnings rose 44% from a year earlier, to $61.2 million.

Tighter margins. Anxious commercial customers. Fresh memories of bad risks taken. These are a few of the limitations acting on Fifth Third, BB&T, PNC and other regional banks as they try to improve on progress made last year.

A group's plan to open a de novo bank in southeastern Pennsylvania could open the door for more bank charters.

Southcoast Financial Corp. (SOCB) in Mt. Pleasant, S.C., swung to a profit in the fourth quarter thanks to improvements to its loan portfolio and a lower cost of funds.

The fast-growing Berkshire Bank in Pittsfield, Mass., hopes that features like community rooms with video-game systems will attract customers as it enters new markets.

Westamerica Bancorp. (WABC) in San Rafael, Calif., reported lower quarterly earnings as low interest rates and competition took a bite out of its bottom line.

A dissident investor has swapped out its candidate to join the board of First Financial Northwest (FFNW) in Renton, Wash.

Bank of the Ozarks (OZRK) of Little Rock, Ark., posted a fourth-quarter profit gain despite sliding interest income, thanks in part to an acquisition that closed late in the year.

Suffolk Bancorp of Riverhead, N.Y., continues to reinvent its management team, this time hiring James Gay as its chief credit officer.

Scottrade Bank has hired a former executive at TCF Financial (TCB) to launch an equipment finance unit.

Citizens First in Bowling Green, Ky., reported higher quarterly results as improved lending offset higher expenses.

Pan Pacific Bank in Fremont, Calif., reported another profitable quarter. The $113.3 million-asset bank earned $330,000 in the fourth quarter, compared to a $544,000 loss a year earlier.

Republic Bancorp (RBCAA) in Louisville, Ky., posted higher quarterly earnings after booking gains tied to recent failed-bank acquisitions.

Virginia Commerce Bancorp in Arlington took a quarterly hit to earnings after exiting the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Smith, who retired this month after seven years as CEO of Fulton Financial in Pennsylvania, gives the cold, hard truth about leadership and puts it in historical terms.

Pacific Continental (PCBK) in Eugene, Ore., took advantage of accelerated business lending and lower expenses to post another profitable quarter.

MidFirst Bank in Oklahoma City has agreed to buy a specialty lender in Atlanta.