Serving approximately 12 million customers, Absa Group operates some 700 branches and about 9,000 ATMs, primarily in South Africa. The company's Absa Bank is one of that nation's largest retail banks and mortgage lenders. The bank and other subsidiaries offer deposits, loans, credit cards, insurance, investments, financial planning, and asset management services. Beyond South Africa, Absa Group owns some 80% of Barclays Bank Mozambique and a majority of National Bank of Commerce in Tanzania. British bank Barclays owns about 55% of Absa Group, making it one of South Africa's largest single foreign investors since apartheid ended in 1994.

Sandy Spring Bancorp is the holding company for Sandy Spring Bank, which operates more than 40 branches in the Baltimore and Washington, DC, metropolitan areas. One of the largest and oldest banks headquartered in Maryland (it was founded in 1868), Sandy Spring Bank provides standard deposit services, including checking and savings accounts, money market accounts, and CDs. Commercial mortgages account for the largest portion of the company's loan portfolio (about 40%); the remainder is a mix of residential mortgage, consumer, construction, and business loans, as well as equipment leases. The company also offers personal investing services, wealth management, trust services, insurance, and retirement planning.

In 1911, legislation established the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. In 1959, this original body corporate was preserved as the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) in legislation, specifically to carry on the central banking functions; at that same time, the commercial and savings banking functions were transferred into a new institution, which carried on the old name of Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

One of Spain's top banks (after giants Banco Santander and BBVA), Banco Popular offers commercial and retail banking services through more than 2,200 branches. It operates mainly at home, where it specializes in commercial loans to small and midsized businesses. Non-banking offerings include mutual funds, asset management, life insurance, factoring, and securities brokerage. Banco Popular also owns Banco Popular Portugal and mortgage bank Banco Popular Hipotecario, and it owns a 60% stake in private bank Popular Banca Privada. (Dexia owns the rest.) The bank also sells property/casualty coverage by German insurer Allianz.

First Business Financial Services serves small and midsized companies, entrepreneurs, professionals, and high-net-worth individuals through First Business Bank and First Business Bank - Northeast. The banks offer deposits, loans, cash management, and trust services from about five offices in Wisconsin. About half of First Business Financial's loan portfolio is devoted to commercial mortgages; business loans and leases add about another quarter. Subsidiary First Business Capital specializes in asset-based lending, while First Business Equipment Finance provides commercial equipment financing. First Business Trust & Investments offers investment management and retirement services.

Pulaski Financial is the holding company for Pulaski Bank, which provides financial services to residents and businesses from about a dozen branches throughout the St. Louis and Kansas City metropolitan areas. The bank offers standard deposit products, including checking and savings accounts, NOW accounts, and money market accounts. Pulaski's loan portfolio includes primarily commercial and residential mortgages, as well as home equity and construction loans. Through subsidiaries, the bank offers title insurance, annuities and insurance, and fixed-income investment and trading.

First Federal Bancshares of Arkansas, Inc. operates as the holding company for First Federal Bank, which provides various financial products to individuals and small- to medium-sized businesses in north central and northwest Arkansas. First Federal Bancshares of Arkansas, Inc. offers a range of retail and business deposit accounts, including noninterest bearing and interest bearing checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, certificates of deposits, and individual retirement accounts. Its loan portfolio comprises residential real estate, consumer, construction, lines of credit, commercial real estate, and commercial non-real estate loans. In addition, First Federal Bancshares of Arkansas, Inc. offers investment products; automated teller machines; telephone banking services; Internet banking services, including account access, bill payment, e-statements, and online loan applications; Bounce Protection overdraft services; debit cards; and safe deposit boxes. It operates 19 full service branch offices in Benton, Marion, Washington, Carroll, Baxter, and Boone counties. First Federal Bancshares of Arkansas, Inc. was founded in 1934 and is based in Harrison, Arkansas.

NASB Financial is the holding company for North American Savings Bank, which operates about 15 branches and loan offices in the Kansas City area. Established in 1927, the bank offers a range of deposit products to retail and commercial customers, including checking, savings, and money market accounts and CDs. Its lending activities are fairly evenly split between mortgages secured by residential, commercial, and development properties. Subsidiary Nor-Am sells annuities, mutual funds, and credit life and disability insurance. Chairman David Hancock and his wife Linda (a board member) own a majority of NASB Financial.

Morton Community Bank has nearly 30 branches and divisions known collectively as "Your Hometown Community Banks of Central Illinois." Most bear the names of the communities in which they operate. Serving local consumers and businesses, the bank offers standard products and services such as checking and savings accounts and ATM, credit, and debit cards. Commercial and residential mortgages account for around two-thirds of its loan portfolio. Morton Community Bank provides financial planning services through its Investment Services division; personal and business insurance are offered through affiliate Winter Insurance. Morton acquired Citizens National Bank in 2009 after it was shut down by regulators.

FNB Bancorp bank also originates business, consumer, and construction loans.To be or not to FNB? If that's your question, you might want to look into FNB Bancorp. It's the holding company for First National Bank of Northern California, which serves consumers and small to midsized businesses in San Mateo and San Francisco counties. Through about a dozen branches, the bank offers traditional products such as checking and savings accounts, IRAs, CDs, and credit cards. Real estate loans, including commercial and residential mortgages, account for approximately 70% of the company's loan portfolio.

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