MIDWEST

The Treasury Department's plan to buy stakes in small and regional banks is expected to attract strong interest from hobbled banks struggling to raise capital and perhaps healthy banks that could use the funds to acquire weaker competitors.

Shares of Southern Community Bancshares Inc. in Fayetteville, Ga., fell 20% Tuesday, to $2.40, after the $378 million-asset company said it is operating under a cease-and-desist order from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance.

First Interstate BancSystem Inc. in Billings, Mont., said it raised $11.8 million of capital in the third quarter.

For community banks considering near-term investments in technology projects, the financial crisis may represent an opportunity to do so at a reduced cost.

Chemical Financial Corp. in Midland, Mich., already intending to write off a $10.5 million loan it deemed fraudulent, says it expects to take an additional $5 million charge on loans that are not being paid back.

Columbia Bancorp Inc. in The Dalles, Ore., said its former chief executive officer, Terry L. Cochran, has returned to run the ailing company.

Gerald J. Ford made his reputation — and much of his fortune — buying up damaged banks and thrifts during the savings and loan crisis, fixing them, and selling them for top dollar.

The last time Bradford Bank in Baltimore tried to go public it had growth in mind, but this time its proposed conversion is more about pumping up capital to satisfy regulators.

In two months Midwest Banc Holdings Inc. in Melrose Park, Ill., has gone from a company with big growth plans to one that may not be able to survive on its own.

Community Bank System Inc. of Dewitt, N.Y., said Wednesday that it has raised $52.5 million in a public stock offering.

NEW ENGLAND

Third Federal Savings and Loan Association in Cleveland opened a branch in Broward County, Fla., this week and said it plans to open three more in the county early next year.

Berkshire Hills Bancorp Inc. in Pittsfield, Mass., is selling up to $30 million of common stock.

Horizon Bancorp of Michigan City, Ind., expects to report a 42% decline in third-quarter earnings from a year earlier, to $1.3 million, as a result of a significant increase in its provision for loan losses.

Whitney Holding Co. of New Orleans announced Tuesday that it expects to report a third-quarter profit of $6 million to $8 million, or 10 cents to 12 cents a share, which would be well below analysts' estimates.

Capital has been hard to come by for many banking companies, but that is not dimming the optimism of several former executives from Signet Banking Corp. for a significant start-up effort in their Virginia environs.

During the past three years, First State Bancorp. in Albuquerque grew aggressively: It bought three banks, two in New Mexico and one in Colorado, and its asset size rose 70%, to $3.5 billion.