The failure of our leaders to communicate the true nature of the CPP, and the media's mischaracterization of it, did severe and unnecessary damage to confidence in our nation's banking industry.

Losses on commercial real estate loans pose the biggest risk to U.S. banks this year, troubling smaller lenders while unlikely to threaten the entire financial system.

Imagine trying to persuade regulators to let a Michigan de novo expand by eight times the goal of its initial business plan on the eve of the economic meltdown.

The $1.2 billion-asset company said Tuesday in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that it exchanged $1.1 million of fixed-rate subordinated notes for 2.2 million shares of common stock in a deal with seven investors, including one board member.

Upon disclosing its third and largest branch deal Tuesday, Amcore Financial Inc. made another announcement: its capital ratios are finally headed in the right direction.

Sun American Bank has failed to submit an acceptable capital plan to regulators, the Federal Reserve disclosed Monday.

Like a lot of companies, TLCM Holdings LLC in Richardson, Texas, was shopping for a failing bank. Its plan: transform the target's business model to provide a secondary market for bank loans.

Four Oaks Fincorp Inc., the holding company for Four Oaks Bank and Trust Co. of Four Oaks, N.C., announced Monday that it completed the acquisition of Nuestro Banco on Dec. 31.

Webster Financial Corp. announced Monday that it plans to expand its business banking portfolio by $400 million in the coming year.

First Community Bank Corp. of America is aiming to raise capital to immediately boost capital levels at its thrift and amass cash for further capital needs.

TLCM Holdings LLC, a new holding company in Richardson, Texas, has agreed to acquire EJ Financial Corp. in Dallas. TLCM and EJ Financial announced the deal late Wednesday, without disclosing the price.

Members of the Community Bankers Council of the American Bankers Association in unison blasted legislative plans to toughen regulation of banks and offered alternative fixes to overdraft programs.

An Illinois banking company has agreed to submit a plan designed to improve the condition of the lender, the Federal Reserve said Wednesday.

Following a regulatory exam, Preferred Bank in Los Angeles announced Wednesday that it will restate its third-quarter earnings, bringing its loss for the quarter to as much as $5 a share, according to one analyst's estimate.

With little competition, Horizon Bancorp in Michigan City, Ind., was able to create its own playbook for a deal announced late Tuesday in which the company agreed to buy pieces of the $122 million-asset American Trust and Savings Bank in Whiting, Ind.

NEW ENGLAND

The board of directors of United Community Banks Inc. in Blairsville, Ga., said Tuesday that it was temporarily suspending its quarterly dividend to avoid further dilution of its shares and improve its liquidity.