Oak Street Funding LLC company offers financing to independent insurance agencies and agents who use their future commissions on policy renewals as collateral. Oak Street Funding loans can be used to repay debt, purchase new equipment, fund staff additions, or other business improvements. The niche lender has loaned some $160 million to insurance professionals since its inception in 2003. Hedge fund Angelo, Gordon acquired Oak Street Funding in 2010.

Canandaigua National can undoubtedly stake its claim as the holding company for Canandaigua National Bank and Trust, which operates more than 20 branches in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. In addition to traditional deposits and loans, the bank also offers online brokerage, insurance, and wealth management services, including corporate retirement plan management and individual financial planning. Its loan portfolio is composed largely of commercial mortgages (nearly 40%), other business loans, and residential mortgages (about 20% each). Canandaigua National executives and directors collectively control about one-fourth of the company.

People's United Financial is the holding company for People's United Bank (formerly People's Bank). Founded in 1842, the bank has more than 300 locations (including traditional branches, supermarket branches, commercial banking offices, investment and brokerage offices, and equipment leasing offices) in New England and New York. In addition to retail and commercial banking services, the bank offers trust, wealth management, brokerage, and insurance services. Its lending activities mainly consist of commercial mortgages (more than a third of its loan portfolio), commercial and industrial loans, equipment financing, and consumer loans.

In 2010 Wells Fargo announced that it will merge the business of Wells Fargo Financial, which accounts for less than 2% of the company's loan volume, into its banking operations. The consumer finance arm of US banking superpower Wells Fargo, Wells Fargo Financial operates through approximately 1,100 locations throughout the US, as well as in Canada and the Pacific Rim. The company provides credit cards, personal loans, and real estate-secured loans to consumers. It originates indirect auto loans through more than 18,000 franchised dealers. Wells Fargo Financial, Inc. also provides sales financing to retailers and lease financing to health care and agribusiness concerns.

In 1997, organizers of Citizens Effingham Bancshares, Inc. embarked upon a quest to meet the need in Effingham County, Georgia for a bank committed to promoting economic growth and community involvement. Citizens Bank was organized with the communities that make up Effingham County in mind. Springfield, being centrally located and the county seat, was chosen as the site of the main office, which opened its doors on September 8, 1998. The Rincon office opened November 2, 1998. Rincon is the county's largest municipality. Growth in Effingham County has been phenomenal in recent years.

The Chiba Bank serves Japan's Chiba prefecture -- located east of Tokyo -- through about 170 branches and sub-branches. The bank, in addition to providing traditional banking services to individuals and businesses, offers investment trusts, credit cards, leasing, financial consulting, annuities, and securities. Its lending focuses on home mortgages, regional businesses, and residential construction companies. The bank has more than 28,000 ATMs nationwide and operates international offices in Hong Kong, London, New York, and Shanghai. In 2008 Chiba Bank joined with banks in Thailand and China to provide financial services in those countries.

The Chinese economy would be nothing without the People's Bank of China. The central bank controls monetary policy, sets the exchange rate, regulates the gold market, manages the state treasury, and oversees other financial institutions. Like the Federal Reserve System in the US, the People's Bank of China lends money to commercial banks as necessary. It also issues currency. In mainland China, the reminbi is the name of the currency, and the yuan is the base unit (like the dollar). The People's Bank of China operates nine regional branches in addition to its headquarters in Beijing. The bank was established in 1948, and until 1978 it was the only bank in China. It became the country's central bank in 1983.

Credito Bergamasco S.p.A (also known as CreBerg) offers standard deposit banking products and services to individuals and businesses from about 250 branch locations. In addition to commercial banking, the company offers related financial services including asset management, merchant banking, leasing, and insurance coverage. Banca Popolare, which has more than 2,000 branches throughout Italy, owns more than 85% of the company. Credito Bergamasco was established in 1891.

PremierWest Bancorp strives to be the principal financial institution on the West Coast. The firm is the holding company for PremierWest Bank, which operates 40 branches generally located along the Interstate 5 corridor in southern Oregon and northern California. The community bank serves local businesses and consumers, using funds from deposit accounts mainly to originate loans secured by commercial and residential real estate. Bank subsidiary PremierWest Investment Services provides investment brokerage services. Consumer lender Premier Finance Company is another subsidiary of the bank; mortgage service provider PremierWest Mortgage is a division of the bank.

First Bancshares is hoping you'll remember it for its banks. Iowa First Bancshares is the holding company for First National Bank of Muscatine (founded in 1870) and First National Bank in Fairfield (founded in 1865 and acquired by Iowa First Bancshares in 1985). The banks, which operate eight branches in the two southeastern Iowa towns for which they're named, offer individuals and businesses checking, savings, money market, and time deposit accounts, as well as other traditional products and services including loans, trust services, debit cards, credit-related insurance, Internet and telephone banking, and brokerage services.

Inviting Real Estate Agents, Job Placements Agents, Educational Institutes, Software Service Providers, Real Estate Builders, Marriage Bureaus, Travel Agents, Restaurant Owners, Health & Fitness Centers and other Local Businesses to Post a FREE Classified Advertisement on Cootera.com Classifieds Website.