Aozora (which means blue sky in Japanese) was the second Japanese credit bank nationalized in the wake of Asia's financial crisis after the Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan (now Shinsei Bank). Bad loans and Japan's "Big Bang" financial deregulation added to its troubles. Now a full-service commercial bank, Aozora has some 20 branches in Japan and three offices overseas. In addition to insurance and trust services, Aozora Bank provides a wide range of business loans for medium and large corporations, asset management, investment advisory services and securitization. Aozora and Shinsei called off their plans to merge in 2010.

Roma Financial Corporation may have Italian roots, but its branches are in good ol' American capitalism. The holding company owns Roma Bank, which was founded in 1920 by Italian immigrants in New Jersey and now operates about two dozen branches in that state's Burlington, Mercer, and Ocean counties. It offers the usual personal and commercial services, such as checking and savings accounts, CDs, business and consumer loans, and credit and debit cards. The company established RomAsia bank in 2008. Two years later, it added 10 branches to Roma Bank's network through its $14.7 million acquisition of Sterling Banks. Mutual holding company Roma Financial Corporation, MHC, owns some 70% of Roma Financial.

Ridgewood Savings Bank is a royal member of the financial community. in 1920, a group of fourteen local Ridgewood residents got together with the idea of forming a new mutual savings institution to serve the people of their community. Working purely towards the common good and without regard for personal gain, our founders had high hopes for the success of the bank formed "for the people, by the people."

Itaúsa is an umbrella organization for financial services, real estate, building products, chemicals and electronics, and IT firms. The company's financial services arm its largest sector includes Itaú Unibanco, one of Brazil's largest banks. The bank operates more than branches 3,700 branches in Brazil and also has a presence in major markets in Europe, Asia, the US, and elsewhere in Latin America. Itaúsa's other operations include Duratex, which makes medium-density fiberboard and ceramic and metal bathroom fixtures; high-tech company Itautec; and chemical company Elekeiroz. Members of the Egydio de Souza Aranha family own a controlling stake in the company.

United Security Bancshares (unrelated to the Alabama-based corporation of the same name) is the holding company for United Security Bank, which operates about 10 branches, loan offices and financial services offices in central California's San Joaquin Valley. The bank attracts deposits from area businesses and individuals by offering checking and savings accounts, NOW and money market accounts, certificates of deposit, and IRAs. In 2007 United Security Bancshares bought Legacy Bank, which had a single branch in Campbell, California. A year later the company purchased ICG Financial and then formed a wealth management, consulting and insurance division, USB Financial Services.

Valiant Holding was formed in 2002 with the merger of regional Swiss banks Valiant Bank (retail banking) and Valiant Privatbank (asset management) with IRB Interregio Bank and Luzerner Regiobank. Today, Valiant Bank serves German-speaking clients in Switzerland, while Banque Romande Valiant serves the country's Francophone population. Together, the two banks have more than 100 offices. Valiant Holding also owns Spar + Leihkasse Steffisburg, a bank with two branches in Switzerland. The banks offer savings and investments, mortgages and loans, retirement planning, and private banking services, including asset management for retail and institutional investors.

Philippine National Bank(PNB) offers financial services to corporate, middle market, and retail customers; Filipino government agencies; and government-owned and controlled corporations. It has some 325 domestic branches and 105 overseas locations through which it offers deposit products, lending, bills discounting, foreign exchange dealing, investment banking, funds transfer, remittance servicing, retail banking, and trust services. Subsidiaries are engaged in merchant banking, small business financing, insurance, leasing, stock brokerage, and financial advisory services.

Heritage Oaks Bancorp acts as a bank holding company of Heritage Oaks Bank. Other than holding the shares of the Bank, the Company conducts no significant activities, although it is authorized, with the prior approval of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, to engage in a variety of activities that are deemed closely related to the business of banking. The Bank offers traditional banking products, such as checking, savings and certificates of deposit, as well as mortgage loans and commercial and consumer loans to customers who are predominately small to medium-sized businesses and individuals.

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.

Midwest BankCentre is a fast-growing, progressive community bank with enduring traditions and values. Founded as Lemay Bank & Trust Company, our long history of serving St. Louis began in 1906. Since then, we've maintained our commitment to the community, changed our name to more accurately reflect our regional focus and continually enhanced our products and services to serve the times.

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