More bankers are grappling with the prospect that the government will soon go from being a passive investor in their companies to an influence in the boardroom.

The $3.2 billion-asset company announced late Tuesday that it had agreed to buy the privately held LaFollette First National Corp. for $16.1 million in cash, or $650 a share, about 1.05 times LaFollette's tangible book value.

The biggest banks continued to pay about half what the smallest banks paid for funding in the first quarter.

Re: "Despite Strength, Ag Lenders Face Heightened Reg Scrutiny" In 2008, I told all of our farm borrowers that my dad sold corn for $3.12 in August, 1975. By August, 1977, the price of corn below $1.60. Of course prices are going in the tank. That is not the time to sell.

Legislation to create a $30 billion fund to boost small-business lending is likely to pass the House this week and Senate leaders could consider it as early as next week.

Louisiana Bancorp Inc. in Metairie said it is repurchasing its stock for the eighth time since completing a mutual-to-stock conversion three years ago.

The Treasury Department announced it will auction off warrants today to purchase the common stock of Sterling Bancshares Inc. in Houston.

Three and a half years after selling Harbor Florida Bancshares Inc. at the top of the market, the company's former executives have decided it's time to buy.

WASHINGTON — Two days ahead of the official start of a conference on regulatory reform legislation, lawmakers were staking out positions on key issues and hinting at potential compromises.

The Treasury Department said Tuesday it plans to sell its 2.62 million warrants to buy Sterling Bancshares Inc. stock Wednesday.

Community Valley Bank reported that total assets rose nearly 10% in the first quarter. Heading into its third year in business, the El Centro, Calif., bank said Friday that it expects to become profitable in 2010 based on growth in earning assets.

Tri-Valley Bank announced Friday that a private investor group has terminated a $6 million stock-purchase agreement.

Boston Private Financial Holdings Inc. plans to raise up to $40 million of capital to help pay back funds received through the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Farm banks largely stayed out of the muck the past few years, but that hasn't stopped regulators from trying to rein in these lenders.

In practice, creating a bureaucracy will produce more problems than it will solve, by putting government in the business of deciding what products are right for bank customers.

More banks in the Southeast are likely to fall victim to the financial crisis, a Federal Reserve official said Friday.

By missing a sixth quarterly dividend payment, due in May under the Treasury's Troubled Asset Relief Program, a Southern California bank became poised to test how the government will treat repeat delinquencies in the program.

WASHINGTON — Federal regulators shut three more banks on Friday, including $2.8 billion-asset TierOne Bank of Lincoln, Neb., a struggling 103 year-old thrift.

First Place Financial Corp. has announced plans to raise $80 million in capital not only to become stronger but also to buy other institutions — including failed banks.

Lured by the chance to raise capital and worried about the future of the Office of Thrift Supervision, a wave of mutual holding companies have received approval to convert to full stock companies.