Republic Bancorp Inc. is fighting to keep a right that most other banks have surrendered. The Louisville, Ky., company is preparing to square off against the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. over refund-anticipation loans, a product that regulators have pressured several other lenders to stop making because it is viewed as predatory.

Ocean Shore said the deal for the parent company of Select Bank would boost its presence in Atlantic County and create a $1 billion-asset bank.

National Penn Bancshares Inc. of Boyertown, Pa., said late Monday that Michael Martin had joined its board as part of a recent capital infusion by Warburg Pincus.

CoBiz Financial Inc. of Denver said late Monday that it would record a $15.6 million valuation allowance for deferred tax assets.

The Federal Reserve Board acted against three banks Tuesday. Bank of Whitman in Colfax, Wash., was hit with a prompt corrective action after the Fed found that the $722.2 million-asset bank was undercapitalized and failed to submit an acceptable capital restoration plan.

"Time for a Separate Regulatory Tier for Small Banks" (Jan. 26) was on the money about the current regulatory environment and how it is impacting community banks and the overall economic recovery (or lack thereof). You have captured, with great accuracy, what community banks are facing.

First Mid-Illinois Bancshares Inc. in Mattoon is raising capital through a private placement to be opportunistic. The $1.5 billion-asset company said Friday that it had subscriptions for $27.5 million of convertible preferred stock from investors, directors, executives, major customers and existing shareholders.

CBM Florida Holding Co. in Lakewood Ranch said in a press release Friday that its Community Bank & Co. had agreed to buy the $505 million-asset First Community Bank of America in Pinellas Park, Fla.

At first blush, the Obama administration's 2012 budget proposal appears to take a hatchet to the Small Business Administration.

Four failed-bank deals announced Friday evening marked another successful night for private equity.

Four failed-bank deals announced Friday evening marked another successful night for private equity.

Republic Bancorp said Friday that it had received a notice from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. characterizing its practice of funding loans in advance of income tax refunds as "unsafe and unsound."

Premier Financial Bancorp Inc. said its regulator, citing the Troubled Asset Relief Program, had rejected a request to let it pay dividends.

MutualFirst Financial Inc. reported a fourth-quarter profit as credit costs ticked up but securities problems abated.

Though BankAtlantic in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was well capitalized at yearend, the thrift may soon be required to boost its capital.

The Federal Reserve has given Community Banks of Colorado 90 days to return to adequately capitalized status or sell itself.

As bank M&A activity heats up, CRA compliance will move to the forefront of the issues banks must consider when making deals.

As bank M&A activity heats up, CRA compliance will move to the forefront of the issues banks must consider when making deals.

BankAtlantic Bancorp reported a smaller net loss in the fourth quarter as its loan-loss provision and net chargeoffs shrank from a year earlier.

Securian Financial Group of St. Paul, Minn., said Wednesday that it had received regulatory approval to write debt-protection contractual liability policies in Florida.