Sturgis Bancorp is the holding company for Sturgis Bank & Trust, which has about 10 branches in south-central Michigan. Founded in 1905, the bank offers checking and savings accounts, CDs, trust services, and other standard banking fare. Real estate loans comprise the bulk of its lending activities: one- to four-family residential mortgages make up more than half of the company's loan portfolio. Subsidiary Oak Leaf Financial Services provides insurance and investment products and services from third-party provider Linsco/Private Ledger.

Capitol Bancorp raises banks. The holding company owns a network of community banks in more than a dozen states around the country. Many of the banks have only one location and are run locally. They target area business customers and high-net-worth individuals, with offerings such as checking and savings accounts, loans and mortgages, and trust and investment services. Its Capitol Wealth subsidiary provides wealth management services. Commercial real estate loans make up about half of Capitol Bancorp's total loan portfolio, which also includes residential mortgage, business, consumer, construction, and land development loans.

TrustCo Bank Corp is the holding company for Trustco Bank, which operates in eastern New York, central and western Florida, and parts of Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. It has about 130 branches, offering individual and business customers a variety of deposit products and trust services. It primarily originates residential and commercial mortgages, which account for about three-quarters of its loan portfolio; it also writes business loans and home equity lines of credit. Since 2003, TrustCo Bank has nearly doubled its branch network in New York and Florida by opening new locations. It plans to continue opening new branches, albeit not as rapidly.

Drake Financial is an Export-Import Bank Guaranteed Lender. Perhaps Sir Francis Drake's circumnavigation of the world would have gone a little smoother had Drake Finance Group been involved. Working through a network of private lenders, Drake Financial Group secures trade financing for US exporters and foreign buyers of bulk agricultural products, capital equipment, consumer durables, raw materials, and spare parts. Additionally, Drake Finance Group, Inc facilitates asset-based loans, equipment leasing, factoring, and lines of credit for businesses based in the US and Canada.

Old Point Financial is the holding company for Old Point National Bank of Phoebus, which has more than 20 branches in the Hampton Roads region of southeastern Virginia. Founded in 1923, the bank serves area businesses and consumers, offering such services as checking and savings accounts, money market accounts, and CDs. With these funds, the bank mainly originates commercial and residential mortgages, which account for a majority of its loans. Subsidiary Old Point Trust & Financial Services provides investment management and tax, estate, and retirement planning services. Old Point Trust & Financial Services owns about 20% of the company. Chairman and CEO Robert Shuford Sr. owns about 12%.

Cherokee residents were invited to invest in a new bank being formed by 10 local directors, and by July, Cherokee Bank opened its doors in a temporary facility with eight employees. The bank moved into a permanent home in its present main office in March of 2000. After a short 15 months of operation, the bank had its first break-even month in October of 2000. Assets grew steadily from the start, passing the $50 million mark within two years, $100 million within four years and surpassing the $200 million mark within seven years. A temporary office was opened in South Canton in July 2002 to complement the bank's North Canton main office. The permanent facility opened in January of 2004. In 2007, the bank opened its Woodstock Office to serve clients in Woodstock, Acworth and Kennesaw.

County Bank Corp is the holding company for Lapeer County Bank & Trust (LCBT), which operates about 10 branches in southeastern Michigan's Lapeer County, north of Detroit. Founded in 1902, the bank offers traditional services such as checking and savings accounts, CDs, IRAs, and and trust services. LCBT focuses on real estate lending: Commercial and single-family residential mortgages together make up approximately three-quarters of its loan portfolio.

Vestin Group is investin' in commercial real estate. Through subsidiaries, the firm originates, invests in, and services mortgages secured by commercial properties such as apartment complexes, office buildings, shopping centers, and assisted living facilities. Its Vestin Mortgage subsidiary manages two real estate investment trusts (REITs) and a real estate investment fund, all focusing on mortgages and deeds of trust. Vestin Originations issues and services short-term commercial mortgages and construction loans; most are between $2.5 million and $10 million and have one-year terms. The company's portfolio also consists of acquisition, development, land, and bridge loans. CEO Michael Shustek owns Vestin Group.

Since 1933, Navy Federal has grown from seven members to over 3 million members. And since that time, our vision statement has remained the same You can leave the military, change employers, move, retire, get married—and never have to leave Navy Federal. "Once a member, always a member." This policy undoubtedly has helped NFCU become one of the nation's largest credit unions, claiming more than 3 million members who can retain their credit union privileges even after discharge from the armed services. Formed in 1933, NFCU provides a variety of financial services to all Department of Defense uniformed personnel, reservists, National Guard personnel, civilian employees, and contractors, as well as their families

Betcha banking's big business for BB Holdings. The company operates The Belize Bank, the largest commercial and retail bank located in the nation of Belize, with about a dozen branches. About half of the bank's loan portfolio consists of corporate loans that support the tourism, agriculture, and distribution industries. The bank also has operations in the Turks and Caicos Islands, where it is the largest issuer of loans. BB Holdings has a 25% stake in Numar, a Costa Rican palm seed and edible oil operation, which processes margarine and animal feed. BB Holdings is controlled by chairman Michael Ashcroft, a UK billionaire and Conservative party officer, who holds dual citizenship in the UK and Belize.

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