Community Banks

Sykesville Federal Savings Association announced Thursday that it has changed its name to Carroll Community Bank as part of its conversion to a state-chartered bank. By converting from federally chartered status, Carroll Community can expand its financial services and commercial lending within Maryland's business community, the bank said. The bank, which has two branches in Westminster and Eldersburg, will remain under the same ownership and management. It was founded in 1870.

Salary: : $175,000 Age: : 49 Years on the job: : three How he got started: : After graduating with a bachelor's degree in business from the University of Massachusetts and a master's degree in business from George Washington University, Michael Dee went to work as a bank examiner for the U.S. Office of Thrift Supervision. He then worked for six years at the former Bank of Baltimore as an assistant vice president in the finance department. He later went to Sandy Spring Bank, first as an analyst and later as a vice president.

In recent speeches, President-elect Barack Obama has called for an economic recovery plan that "helps both Wall Street and Main Street." Main Street may seem like an abstract concept to some, but in communities across Southern Maryland, it is not. When I drive down the main streets of towns such as Waldorf, Leonardtown and Prince Frederick, I see not only homes but also businesses, churches and professional offices that were built and supported by a...

As the economy slumps, one Maryland bank has not only stayed out of trouble but has burnished the kind of 24-karat lending record that rivals would covet even in a boom. Bowie-based Old Line Bank has lent more than $200 million to local homebuilders, hoteliers, auto repair shops, lawyers, homebuyers and landscapers. But as banks fail nationwide at the greatest rate since 1993, so far every one of Old Line's borrowers is paying interest and principal as planned. A church that was behind on payments is catching up. Other than that, Old Line has zero "nonperforming" loans, defined as at least 90 days overdue.

Back in its day, Mercantile-Safe Deposit and Trust Co. was affiliated with just about every important family and cultural institution in Baltimore and others below the Mason-Dixon Line. Created as a repository of Southern wealth in 1864, it was a place where executives served their elite clientele quietly and ran their business conservatively. It was a place where vault security rivaled Fort Knox and federal insurance for deposits was considered a sign of banking weakness. It's no longer the largest trust company east of the Mississippi River and south of Philadelphia.

On April 8, 2006, DON RIDDLE, 44, of Red Lion, PA formerly of Essex, MD. Father of Brittany Riddle of Felton, PA; son of Betty (Blevins) Riddle of Essex, MD and the late Charles Riddle; brother of Robert Riddle of Essex, MD, the late Carol Riddle and the late Roger Riddle; good friend of Dwight Prall of Jacobus, PA. Don was born on January 20, 1962 in Baltimore, MD. He was a Manufacturing Supervisor at CNH in New Holland, PA and at AAI in Hunt Valley, MD....

Mercantile Bankshares Corp., Maryland's largest independently owned bank, has agreed to buy Community Bank of Northern Virginia for $212 million in a bid to increase its presence in the fast-growing Washington suburbs and build a more wealthy clientele base. Baltimore-based Mercantile said yesterday that it will pay a market premium of nearly 20 percent for Community Bank stock, based on Monday's closing price of $17.20. With the deal, Mercantile will acquire 13 branches in the Virginia counties of Loudoun and Fairfax and bring its total number of branches in the northern part of the state to 15. Mercantile also reported that its net income in the fourth quarter of 2004 increased 19.7 percent to $60.6 million from $50.6 million during the fourth quarter of 2003.

Office Depot opens on Englar Road in Westminster Office Depot held a grand opening and ribbon-cutting Thursday for its store at 402 A Englar Road in Westminster. Local officials welcomed the store and heard about the company's community outreach programs. The store is donating $500 each to Family and Children's Services of Central Maryland, the Carroll County Public Library to reach disadvantaged children, and Carroll County Food Sunday food bank. Also, 120 backpacks with school supplies will be donated to Carroll County public schools for at-risk children.

Two Maryland community banks reported second-quarter earnings results yesterday, with Columbia Bancorp posting a 9.7 percent increase in net income and Olney-based Sandy Spring Bancorp recording a 27 percent decrease as low interest rates and a suffering securities portfolio sapped profits. Sandy Spring had net income of $6.4 million, or 43 cents per share, in the quarter that ended June 30, down from $8.7 million, or 60 cents per share, posted for second-quarter 2003. Year over year, deposits were up 6 percent to $1.7 billion and total assets climbed 2 percent to $2.4 billion.