First Charter Corp. in Charlotte announced Monday that it has sold its employee benefits management subsidiary to an undisclosed buyer.

Friday produced balance-sheet reshufflings by three regional banking companies.

Provident Financial Holdings Inc. of Riverside, Calif., said Friday that it is setting aside a $2.5 million reserve to cover possible losses stemming from a housing construction project.

The holding company for Abington Savings Bank in Jenkintown, Pa., announced a plan Thursday to convert to a fully stock format.

Wintrust Financial Corp. is the fourth-largest bank holding company based in Illinois, but many of its customers wouldn't know it.

A consultant and an investment banker who have advised many credit unions that have converted to mutual savings banks denied this week that managers and directors were motivated by greed.

Premier Commercial Bancorp in Anaheim, Calif., has opened a second bank subsidiary, in Mesa, Ariz.

Family Bancorp Inc., a new holding company in Houston, has agreed to buy the $49 million-asset First National Bank of Refugio, the San Antonio Business Journal reported Thursday.

NEW ENGLAND

Rep. Nydia Velazquez has long been advocating for change at the Small Business Administration, and as the incoming chairwoman of the House Small Business Committee, she is now in better position to make them.

BankAtlantic Bancorp. president Jarett S. Levan made clear Wednesday that his company would not change its aggressive expansion strategy, despite slower deposit growth at the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., banking company.

The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court has overturned a broad community charter granted last year to a Harrisburg credit union and ordered the state Department of Banking to reexamine its decision.

Hancock Holding Co. in Gulfport, Miss., lost out on a bid to buy a cluster of branches in Alabama but could still be in position to scoop up market share there, analysts say.

First Fidelity Bancorp in Oklahoma City said Monday that it has a deal to buy the $196 million-asset Western Security Holding Co. in Scottsdale, Ariz.; the price was not disclosed.

Randolph Savings Bank in Randolph, Mass., will not merge with Bristol County Savings Bank in Taunton, Mass., after all, according to a report Monday.

Enterprise Financial Services Corp. in St. Louis has agreed to buy Clayco Banc Corp. of De Soto, Kan., for $37 million in cash and stock.

Dukes County Savings Bank in Edgartown, Mass., has expanded its loan portfolio 49% in the last two years, to $182 million as of Oct. 31, largely through significant increases in home equity and business loans.