Among the troubled sectors of the American economy, banks have taken center stage.

Still heady over the deal it announced last week to swoop into Pennsylvania by buying 57 branches, First Niagara Financial Group Inc. is talking even more boldly now.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. dusted off a tool it had not used in more than a quarter century to resolve New Frontier Bank in Greeley, Colo., which failed Friday.

Silverton Financial Services Inc. in Atlanta has been barred from paying dividends without the Federal Reserve's approval under an agreement with the regulator disclosed Monday.

San Joaquin Bancorp in Bakersfield, Calif., and its bank subsidiary must improve liquidity, board oversight, credit risk management, and loan policies and reviews under an agreement with regulators.

Click here for the top 150 community banks and thrifts ranked by ROA and here for the top 150 community banks and thrifts ranked by return on average equity.

A founding director of Yadkin Valley Financial Corp. in Elkin, N.C., has resigned over its pending deal to buy American Community Bancshares Inc. in Charlotte.

New Frontier Bancorp had hoped to be announcing its rescue last week.

Two top executives have left a struggling correspondent bank in Atlanta.

MIDWEST

For University Bancorp of Ann Arbor, Mich., innovation and rapid growth have taken a regulatory toll.

Guaranty Financial Group Inc. in Austin has a May 21 deadline to raise capital or start looking for a buyer.

Sun Bancorp Inc. in Vineland, N.J., said Wednesday that it has returned the government capital it had received three months ago.

Now this is capitalizing.

FCB Florida Bancorp. Inc. in Orlando has agreed to buy $110 million-asset Anderen Financial Inc. in Palm Harbor, Fla., for an undisclosed amount.

WSB Financial Inc. in Bremerton, Wash., has warned that its survival is in doubt.

With more than half of its loans now nonperforming, Corus Bankshares Inc. of Chicago said Wednesday that the company's auditors have issued a warning about its ability to survive.

Capital Funding Bancorp Inc. in Baltimore said Tuesday that it had agreed to buy AmericasBank Corp. in Towson, Md., for an undisclosed cash sum.