Norman Morales, the former chief executive of Vineyard National Bancorp in Corona, Calif., has withdrawn himself from the slate of dissident directors trying to gain control of the company's board.

For Vineyard National Bancorp shareholders, the long-running battle for control of the Corona, Calif., company's board boils down to this question: Is now the time for Vineyard — deemed a "troubled" institution by regulators — to be aggressively going after new business, or should it focus on reducing assets and building its capital base?

Capital City Bank Group Inc. in Tallahassee, Fla., says it has looked at about eight acquisition targets in recent months but found that most have credit issues that could make them more trouble than they are worth.

The Board of Directors of Community Bank of Oak Park River Forest today named Walter Healy, 42, president, succeeding Martin J. Noll, 65, who was named chairman of the board and continues as chief executive officer.

Battered by large losses on subprime mortgage and construction loans, First Banks Inc. in St. Louis expects to report a loss of nearly $40 million when it announces second-quarter earnings next week.

After a second straight dismal quarter, Silver State Bancorp in Henderson, Nev., is looking for a new chairman and a new chief executive officer.

First Community Bancshares Inc. in Bluefield, Va., has a deal to buy Coddle Creek Financial Corp. in Mooresville, N.C., for $33.1 million.

Examiners are expecting bankers to take new approaches to stress testing loans, especially commercial real estate ones, which could have a profound impact on loan-loss reserves.

If Guaranty Financial Group Inc. in Austin and Central Pacific Financial Corp. in Honolulu had made loans only in their home states, they might have reported solid profits for the second quarter.

As a start-up flush with capital, Allegiance Bank Texas in Houston has had little trouble attracting deposits of late.

Tennessee Commerce Bancorp Inc. in Franklin said Thursday that it has hired Frank Perez as its chief financial officer.

American Community Bancshares Inc. in Charlotte, N.C., has fired its chief credit officer.

With the mortgage and credit markets in shambles and banks reining in lending, any income is welcome income. So community bankers should take note that they’re trailing their bigger brethren when it comes to offering a product rich in fees that consumers increasingly desire in uncertain times: annuities.

Shares of BankAtlantic Bancorp Inc. fell sharply Wednesday after the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., company reported a larger-than-expected second-quarter loss and said it intends to raise $55 million in a rights offering.

Two former executives at Bank of Granite Corp. have agreed to pay $225,000 to settle claims that they made false statements to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and false entries in the Granite Falls, N.C., company's books in relation to loans made as far back as 1999.

Online-only savings accounts can be effective deposit-gathering vehicles for banks, but executives at Frost National Bank in San Antonio say they do not exactly create customer loyalty.

With bad loans to real estate developers piling up, Security Bank Corp. of Macon, Ga., reported a wider-than-expected loss for the second quarter.

SOUTHEAST

Corus Bankshares Inc. in Chicago reported its first-ever quarterly loss as credit quality continued to weaken during the second quarter in its condominium development-heavy loan portfolio.

With Robert M. Daugherty at the helm, AmericanWest Bancorp in Spokane had been in growth mode for the last four years, buying up banks, opening branches, and adding deposit and loan products.