Beneficial Mutual Bancorp is the holding company for Beneficial Bank, which serves the greater Philadelphia area and southern New Jersey through about 70 branches. Founded in 1853 as Beneficial Mutual Savings Bank, the bank provides traditional deposit products such as checking, savings, and money market accounts; IRAs; and CDs. Commercial real estate loans and residential mortgages together account for more than half of the company's loan portfolio; consumer loans (nearly 30%) and business loans (almost 20%) round out its lending. The bank aims to increase its commercial lending activities.

Meta Financial Group is the holding company for MetaBank, a thrift with about a dozen branches in Iowa and South Dakota. MetaBank offers standard deposit products and services including checking and savings accounts. Its lending and investment activities are weighted towards real estate and real estate-related assets; the bank also writes consumer and agriculture loans. MetaBank division Meta Payment Systems (MPS), the company's fastest-growing segment, provides prepaid cards and electronic payment services nationwide. Meta Financial also owns Meta Trust Company, which provides a full range of trust services.

New Century Bancorp is the holding company for the aptly named New Century Bank, which opened for business in 2000. The bank has about 10 branches in central North Carolina's Cumberland, Harnett, Johnston, and Sampson counties. Targeting individuals and small to midsized businesses, New Century Bank offers such services as checking and savings accounts, CDs, IRAs, and loans. Its loan book largely comprises real estate loans (75% of the portfolio); the remaining quarter includes business and consumer loans. The company merged its New Century Bank South subsidiary into New Century Bank in 2008.

Yakima Federal Savings and Loan Association completed another very successful year. We finished the year 2009 with no Real Estate owned and did not post any additions to loan loss reserves or write down any assets during the year. We originated more loans during 2009 than in 2008. Total assets grew by nearly ten percent during 2009 and we recorded strong profits. We are now the tenth largest FDIC insured financial institution in Washington State.

Norwood Financial Corp. serves individuals and local businesses through about a dozen branches in northeastern Pennsylvania. It offers standard deposit products and services including checking and savings accounts, money market savings accounts, CDs, and IRAs. Residential and commercial mortgages account for about 80% of Wayne Bank's loan portfolio. The bank also runs a trust and wealth management division; subsidiary Norwood Investment provides annuities and mutual funds; Norwood Settlement (70%-owned by the bank) offers title and settlement services. Norwood Financial is buying North Penn Bank; the deal will add five branches in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Sovereign Bank offers a broad array of financial services, including retail, business, and corporate banking; cash management; capital markets; private wealth management; and insurance. Its roots reach back to 1902, when it was established as a building and loan association helping Pennsylvania textile workers become homeowners.

Blue River Bancshares was founded in 1937 and is based in Shelbyville, Indiana. Blue River Bancshares, Inc. operates as the holding company for Shelby County Bank and Paramount Bank, which provide community banking services for individuals and businesses in south central Indiana. Its deposits products include checking, NOW, savings, and time deposits. The company also offers real estate loans for single-family and multi-family properties and medium and short-term loans for commercial, agricultural, and industrial properties, as well as consumer and commercial lines of credit secured by real estate; commercial loans for the purpose of financing equipment, working capital, expansion, and other general business purposes; consumer loans, including automobile loans and equity lines of credit; and agricultural loans. As of March 31, 2007, it operated three full service branches in Shelbyville, Morristown, and St. Paul, Indiana; a loan production office in Fishers, Indiana; and one office in Lexington, Kentucky.

Idaho Bancorp was formed in 2004 to be the holding company for Idaho Banking Company, which serves residents and businesses of Boise and surrounding areas through four branches and a mortgage and construction loan office. The bank offers standard services such as checking accounts, CDs and savings, IRAs, credit cards, commercial loans, consumer loans, and mortgages. Construction loans and residential loans account for about 25% and 15%, respectively. Other real estate loans account for another 40%.

MutualFirst Financial is the holding company for MutualFirst Bank, which has more than 30 financial centers and trust offices in northern Indiana and a loan production office in southern Michigan. The bank offers standard products and services such as checking and savings accounts, CDs, IRAs, and credit cards. More than 40% of the company's loan portfolio is devoted to residential mortgages. Consumer loans, including auto, boat, RV home equity, and home improvement loans, account for about 25%. Business loans also make up about a quarter of the MutualFirst's loan portfolio.

I am delighted to tell you about Encore, a financial services organization like no other. At Encore, our bankers and financial advisors are dedicated to helping you attain your financial goals. When you work with our professionals, you will be working directly with individuals who are committed to building lasting relationships. We are available to meet with you in your home or workplace, or in our private client offices, to explore how our capabilities in banking, wealth management, trust, mortgage and insurance can serve you, your family and your business. Encore Bank has eleven conveniently located private client offices in greater Houston. To find the nearest location, click here. Encore Bancshares, Inc. is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol "EBTX."

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.