James Sills, who runs a 107-year-old bank in North Carolina, believes the key to the survival of minority-owned institutions is their ability to adapt and reach more customers. M&F Bancorp, for instance, is changing the name of its bank and recently added its first nonblack director.

The Motor City's heyday as a financial center has long since passed, though echoes of Detroit's fiscal prominence remain in the shape of its skyline. And there is hope for revival as Ally Financial and Fifth Third make major moves downtown. Here is a look at the city's financial powerhouses over the years.

Community bank CEOs truly stand out from the crowd when they possess a contagious enthusiasm that motivates sales teams, a discerning approach to hiring and an insatiable desire to innovate.

Coastal Banking in Beaufort, S.C., has promoted the head of its mortgage banking division to president of CBC National Bank.

Farmers Capital Bank in Frankfort, Ky., has completed the redemption of its Troubled Asset Relief program preferred shares for about $10.1 million.

The harsh capital treatment of Trups holdings under Basel III undoes the regulatory relief already extended to community banks that had invested in the securities.

Hanmi Financial in Los Angeles has hired a former executive at Opus Bank to fill a newly created strategy post.

Four Oaks Fincorp in Four Oaks, N.C., will soon have a new chief executive.

Choice Financial Holdings in Fargo, N.D., has agreed to purchase Northland Financial in Steele, N.D.

Community Investment Corp. has raised $200 million from about three-dozen banks to acquire and rehabilitate thousands of affordable rental-housing units in the Chicago area.

The Louisiana Real Estate Appraisers Board said Coester Appraisal Management Group did not violate state law for failing to pay appraisers "customary and reasonable" fees, and that its executive director "misspoke" about a stipulation and order with the AMC.

Boston Private Financial Holdings has given its president, Mark Thompson, the additional title of chief executive for its Boston Private Wealth division.

AMG National in Denver has bought a minority stake in an applications and software developer.

Many community banks are trying to determine the right balance of in-house staff and outsourced assistance in the area of risk management. Cost cutting and regulatory oversight loom large over such decisions.

Opus Bank in Irvine, Calif., has appointed three executives to fill the role of chief operating officer after Romolo "Ron" Santarosa resigned from the position.

Fulton Financial in Lancaster, Pa., will issue $150 million in subordinated debt to fund the redemption of a separate portfolio of debt securities.

Sun National Bank in Mount Laurel, N.J., has promoted Anthony D'Imperio to chief credit officer and senior vice president, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission this week.

Steep legal fees used to make it difficult for smaller banks to invest in renewable energy tax credits. A new fund is looking to lower the typical legal fees that have made such investments cost-prohibitive for community banks.

WestStar Bank in El Paso, Texas, is planning to merge with First National Bank in El Paso.

Two private-equity investors have priced their offering of shares in Central Pacific Financial in Honolulu.