Citizens First puts the folks of southwestern Kentucky before all else. Founded in 1975 as a small private-investment club, Citizens First is the holding company for Citizens First Bank, which serves consumers and area businesses through about a dozen locations and 20 ATMs. The company's loan portfolio includes primarily commercial and residential mortgages and business loans. The company also provides title insurance services. Through alliances with other firms, it offers its customers trust and investment services as well as insurance products. Fellow Kentucky bank Porter Bancorp withdrew its offer to acquire a controlling stake in Citizens First in late 2009.

Established in 1989, the firm conducts business across Canada, the US, and internationally. CEO Bernard Shimkovitz led a management buyout of Alliance Financing in 2010. Alliance Financing unites business owners with capital. The firm works with various funding partners to provide financing to small and midsized businesses. Transactions include funding for anything from small equipment and machinery purchases to large working capital needs. Alliance also offers financing packages to municipalities and schools. Through a partnership with The Mortgage Alliance Company of Canada, Alliance Financing also offers mortgage and home equity loans to individuals and business owners.

Newport Bancorp provides a big spread of financial services to the tiniest US state. It is the holding company for Newport Federal Savings Bank, which offers traditional deposit services like savings and checking accounts to both consumers and business owners through branches in Newport, Middletown, Wakefield, and Westerly, Rhode Island. The bank's lending portfolio includes auto and other personal loans and lines of credit, as well as real estate-related home equity, construction, commercial mortgage, and one- to four-family residential loans (the bank's largest segment). The bank's roots date back to 1888.

In 1962, Cathay Bank opened for business with the mission of providing financial services to the growing but underserved Chinese-American community in the greater Los Angeles area, thus becoming the first Chinese-American bank in Southern California. Recognizing that the community it served was part of a more diverse one, Cathay Bank adopted the motto "An Open Door for All." Its rapid expansion was fueled by successive waves of immigration, burgeoning trade between America and Asia, and the economic development of the surrounding community. Since its inception, when it only had $550,000 in capital, Cathay Bank has thrived and is now part of a publicly traded financial institution with stockholder equity of approximately $1.43 billion and total assets of $11.25 billion. Its service network extends from the West Coast to New York and Massachusetts on the Eastern Seaboard, north to the state of Washington, and south to Texas. Overseas, it has a presence in the three important commercial centers in the Asian-Pacific Rim-Taipei, Shanghai, and Hong Kong.

1st Franklin Financial Corporation has been engaged in the consumer finance business since 1941, particularly in direct cash loans and real estate loans. As of September 30, 2010 the business was operated through 106 branch offices in Georgia, 39 in Alabama, 38 in South Carolina, 31 in Mississippi, 23 in Louisiana and 13 in Tennessee. Also on that date, the Company had 1,026 employees. As of September 30, 2010 the resources of the Company were invested principally in loans which comprised 67% of the Company's assets. The majority of the Company's revenues are derived from finance charges earned on loans and other outstanding receivables. Remaining revenues are derived from earnings on investment securities, insurance income and other miscellaneous income.

The Commerce Bank of Oregon has one branch in Portland that caters to small businesses, entrepreneurs, and professionals. It serves local residents too. The bank offers standard services, including savings accounts and credit cards. Investment products such as certificates of deposit and money market accounts are provided through affiliate Zions Bank and third-party provider Fidelity. Commercial and industrial loans account for a majority of The Commerce Bank of Oregon's loan portfolio.

Citizens Bancshares is the holding company for Citizens Trust Bank, which serves the Atlanta and Columbus, Georgia and Birmingham and Eutaw, Alabama communities from about 10 branch offices. The bank provides standard services such as checking and savings accounts, CDs, IRAs, credit cards, financial planning, and investments. Its lending portfolio mainly consists of loans secured by one- to four-family residences, multifamily dwellings, or commercial or industrial real estate. Former chairman and Atlanta-area entrepreneur and philanthropist Herman J. Russell owns about 30% of Citizens Bancshares' stock.

United PanAm Financial flies the choppy skies of subprime lending. Operating through subsidiaries United Auto Credit Corporation (UACC) and United Auto Business Operations (UABO), the specialty finance firm originates, buys, and services auto loan contracts for high-risk customers. The company buys contracts from independent and franchised used car dealers. Most borrowers have less-than-perfect credit histories, which impairs their ability to secure loans. UACC, once heavily localized in California, now has more than 15 offices throughout the country -- a dramatic decrease from what it had only a few years ago. Chairman Guillermo Bron and investment firm Pine Brook Road are buying United PanAm.

State Bank of Countryside (SBC) was founded by a group of local businessmen who saw a need for a community-focused, local bank. They implemented their idea of high-quality, personalized service in a warm, inviting atmosphere by opening State Bank of Countryside in 1975. The first office was made up of a few desks in a small, cozy storefront location—our focused growth and vision over the past three decades have moved us a long way from that humble beginning.

Abbey International is waiting. A unit of Spanish banking powerhouse Santander, Abbey National International (which does business as Abbey International) serves British expatriates with offshore banking services via telephone and the Internet. Offerings include standard deposit accounts, as well as tax-beneficial interest-bearing products denominated in British sterling, US dollars, and euros. Santander's UK divisions are adopting the parent company's brand.

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