Bank sellers and buyers are seeing a steady pickup in business, including separate deals last week by Emigrant and WesBanco.

Metro Bancorp (METR) in Harrisburg, Pa., reported its most profitable quarter in nearly four years in the three months that ended June 30 as the company saw a modest increase in loans and revenues and continued to reduce its overhead.

Higher earnings at People's United Financial could not prevent analysts from heavily questioning management on the company's lower net interest margin during a conference call.

Two banks owned by Mercantile Bancorp in Quincy, Ill., were among five failures on Friday, one of the busiest nights for closures in recent weeks.

The Indiana bank states that it has made major strides since deficiencies were identified more than a year ago.

Anchor Bancorp (ANCB) in Lacey, Wash., will increase its fiscal-year fourth-quarter loan-loss provision by $1.1 million, leading to an expected loss for the period.

Umpqua executives were scratching their heads Friday over the sudden drop in the company's stock price following what appeared to be a strong earnings report this week. TCF, PacWest and Associated also saw slides.

Trade association chief says group polled members and decided allowing the coverage to continue would reduce uncertainty. But group's position still differs from ICBA's proposed five-year extension.

The rapidly expanding First Republic Bank (FRC) will open a branch in the wealthy south Florida enclave of Palm Beach, its first office in the Sunshine State.

The California company received the FDIC's blessing to sell 11 loans covered by loss-sharing arrangements. Industry observers believe more sales could take place now that this deal has been cleared to take place.

Associated Banc-Corp (ASBC) in Green Bay, Wis., reported its highest quarterly profit since early 2008 as commercial and business lending surged.

The $70.8 million deal would add 13 branches and $550 million of deposits in the growing Pittsburgh market.

The deal with Apple Bank provides Emigrant with much-needed capital, though the private bank's lofty price expectations may have warded off other potential bidders, sources says.

Virginia Commerce Bancorp (VCBI) is delaying its planned exit from the Troubled Asset Relief Program following discussions with the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond regarding its repayment plan.

Business borrowers are worried about the economy, and that could slow the momentum in lending the rest of the year, the heads of BB&T, Fifth Third and Huntington warn. However, banks can survive by stealing market share, focusing on stronger markets and managing risk, executives say.

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The Federal Reserve Board has put the kibosh on Virginia Commerce Bancorp's plan to start paying back the Treasury Department this summer.

The FDIC wants banks to remove its name from a fee that covers their deposit insurance assessments. Bankers say the instruction runs counter to complaints that bank fees are often too vaguely defined.

AmericanWest in Spokane, Wash., announced Thursday it plans to acquire the $221 million-asset Inland Community Bank for $23.7 million, or 95% of its book value. It is AmericanWest's third acquisition in California in a year.

Porter Bancorp (PBIB) of Louisville, Ky., did not have to look far to find the new leader for its struggling bank.