Top Bank Stocks To Own For 2015

LONDON (AP) -- Expectations are mounting that European Central Bank will cut interest rates this week after figures Tuesday showed inflation in the euro area at a three-year low and unemployment at another record high.

Expectations were already high that the ECB would cut its main interest rate from its all-time low of 0.75 percent at its monthly policy meeting on Thursday despite reservations from some members on its governing council.

Analysts said Tuesday's figures from Eurostat, the European Union's statistics office, have increased the likelihood of a reduction in borrowing rates.

Consumer prices rose 1.2 percent in the year to April across the 17 EU countries that use the euro -- its lowest level since February 2010 and way down on the 1.7 percent rate recorded in March. The figure also took markets by surprise. They had been expecting a modest decline to 1.6 percent.

The preliminary April rate is way below the ECB's target of keeping inflation "close to but below" 2 percent and therefore gives the central bank more room for maneuver.

Top Bank Stocks To Own For 2015: Oberbank AG (OBV)

Oberbank AG is an Austria-based commercial regional bank. The Company provides products and services for individual customers, as well as for corporate customers. It divides its operations into four segments: Corporate Customers, Private Customers, Financial Markets and Others. The Company offers credit and debit cards, current and saving accounts, investment services, electronic banking services, as well as financing, leasing, investment and real estate services. It operates through numerous offices in Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia. The Company�� major shareholder is CABO Beteiligungsgesellschafts mbH with a stake of 32.54%. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tom Aspray]

  The US market has not been immune to China shocks in 2013 as a plunge in the Japanese market on May 24 was a reaction in part to more weak manufacturing data out of China. But just a month later, the correction in the US market was over as it was no longer overbought (see chart). The weekly on-balance volume (OBV) on the bottom of the chart has continued to make higher highs, line a, since early in 2012.

• [By Tom Aspray]

  I have always felt it was important to give credit to those who originally developed or used a particular analytical tool. I still refer to the TRIN as the ARMs Index as it was developed by an old friend Dick Arms.  My favorite volume tool, of course, is the on-balance volume (OBV) and I frequently give credit to its creator, Joe Granville.

• [By Tom Aspray]

  In addition to the monthly, weekly, and daily charts I also look at the quarterly charts for a view of the longer-term trends. This chart of the S&P 500 and its on-balance volume (OBV) goes back to 1993. Since then, the quarterly OBV has crossed its 21-period WMA a total of five times.

• [By Tom Aspray]

  The high in August 2013 (point 2) just reached the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement resistance from the high at $174.07. This, therefore, was a key level of resistance. As prices declined from the highs, the daily on-balance volume (OBV) began a new downtrend and by October the OBV was acting weaker than prices.

Top Bank Stocks To Own For 2015: Westpac Banking Corp (WEBNF)

Westpac Banking Corporation is a banking company. It operates through three divisions: Australian Financial Services (AFS), Westpac Institutional Bank (WIB) and Westpac New Zealand. AFS consists of Westpac�� retail and business banking operations in Australia, and includes Westpac Retail & Business Banking (Westpac RBB), St.George Banking Group and BT Financial Group Australia (BFTG). Westpac RBB is responsible for sales and service for consumer, small-to-medium enterprise customers and commercial customers under the Westpac brands. St.George is responsible for sales, and service for its consumer, business and corporate customers in Australia under brands, such as St.George and BankSA. BTFG is Westpac�� Australian wealth management division. In January 2014, the Company completed the acquisition of Lloyds Banking Group Plc�� Australian asset finance business, Capital Finance Australia Limited, and its Australian corporate loan portfolio, BOS International (Australia) Ltd. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By MARKETWATCH]

  LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Australian stocks started Monday trade higher, with the S&P/ASX 200 (AU:XJO) up 0.8% at 5,206.40 after a strong finish for Wall Street at the end of last week. Resource shares got a lift from gains for commodities prices since the previous trading session, with strong advances for gold and copper and a more than 2% rise for New York-traded crude-oil futures. Among the leading gainers, Rio Tinto Ltd. (AU:RIO) (RIO) added 1.2%, Oil Search Ltd. (AU:OSH) (OISHF) climbed 1.3%, and gold miners Newcrest Mining Ltd. (AU:NCM) (NCMGF) and Evolution Mining Ltd. (AU:EVN) (CAHPF) improved by 3.9% and 6.4%, respectively. The heavily weighted banking sector also enjoyed solid gains, with Commonwealth Bank of Australia (AU:CBA) (CBAUF) up 1%, Westpac Banking Corp. (AU:WBC) (WEBNF) trading 1.3% higher, and National Australia Bank Ltd. (AU:NAB) (NAUBF) rising 1.1% as the U.K.'s Sunday Times reported the lender is considering a 拢2 billion ($3.3 billion) float of its British operations, which the report said had dragged on NAB's results in recent years.

Best Shipping Stocks To Own Right Now: Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS)

The Bank of Nova Scotia (the Bank) is a diversified financial institution. As of October 31, 2011, the Bank offered a range of products and services, including retail, commercial, corporate and investment banking to more than 18.6 million customers in more than 50 countries around the world. The Bank has four business lines: Canadian Banking, International Banking, Scotia Capital and Global Wealth Management. In January 2012, the Company closed its acquisition of 51% of Banco Colpatria. In April 2012, the Company through Scotia Capital Inc. acquired Howard Weil Incorporated. In April 2013, Bank of Nova Scotia acquired a 50% interest in Administradora de Fondos de Pensiones Horizonte SA. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Brian Pacampara]

  Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, Canadian banking giant Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE: BNS  ) has earned a respected four-star ranking. �

• [By Infinity Group]

  Scotia iTrade (BNS) is one of the largest brokers in Canada. Last week I had a conversation with a Trading Manager and was told "there are no shares currently to be lent out." This changes on a daily basis, but has been the norm for the past month.

• [By Laura Brodbeck]

  Friday

  Earnings Expected From: Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE: BIG), Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE: BNS), American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE: AEO) Economic Releases Expected:�French trade balance, Swiss CPI, US non-farm payrolls, US unemployment rate

  Posted-In: Bank Of England European Central Bank Mario DraghiEurozone Commodities Previews Economics Federal Reserve Pre-Market Outlook Markets Trading Ideas Best of Benzinga

• [By Dividend]

  The Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) has a market capitalization of $76.51 billion. The company employs 83,894 people, generates revenue of $16.284 billion and has a net income of $6.138 billion. The Bank of Nova Scotia�� earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $9.082 billion. The EBITDA margin is 55.78 percent (the operating margin is 40.84 percent and the net profit margin 32.82 percent).

Top Bank Stocks To Own For 2015: First Connecticut Bancorp Inc (FBNK)

First Connecticut Bancorp, Inc. (FCB) is a stock holding company. FCB has been formed in connection with the conversion of First Connecticut Bancorp, Inc. a mutual holding company (MHC), from the mutual to the stock form of organization. As of December 31, 2009, MHC owned all of the outstanding stock of Farmington Bank, a savings bank. The MHC will cease to exist as a result of the conversion, and FCB will own all of the common stock of Farmington Bank. As of December 31, 2009, FCB was not engaged in any business. Farmington Bank is a full-service, community bank with 15 full-service branch offices and four limited service offices, including its main office, located throughout Hartford County, Connecticut.

Farmington Bank provides a diverse range of commercial and consumer services to businesses, individuals and governments across Central Connecticut. Farmington Bank provides a range of banking services to businesses, individuals and governments in Central Connecticut. It also offers a range of residential mortgage loan services. Farmington Bank�� subsidiaries include Farmington Savings Loan Servicing, Inc., Village Investments, Inc., Village Corp., Limited, 28 Main Street Corp., Village Management Corp. and Village Square Holdings Inc.

Farmington Savings Loan Servicing, Inc. operates as Farmington Bank�� passive investment company (PIC). Village Investments, Inc. offers brokerage and investment advisory services through a contract with Infinex Financial Services, a registered broker-dealer. Village Corp., Limited was established to hold certain commercial real estate acquired through foreclosures, deeds in lieu of foreclosure, or other similar means. Village Square Holdings, Inc. holds certain commercial real estate of Farmington Bank, formerly used as Farmington Bank�� operations center prior to its relocation to One Farm Glen Boulevard, Farmington, Connecticut. As of December 31, 2009, 28 Main Street Corp and Village Management Corp were inactive.

Len! ding Activities

Farmington Bank�� primary lending activities consists of the origination of one-to-four family residential real estate loans that are primarily secured by properties located in Hartford County and surrounding counties in Connecticut. During the year ended December 31, 2009, the Bank originated $75.8 million of fixed-rate one-to-four family residential loans. The Bank also offers adjustable-rate mortgage loans for one-to-four family properties, with an interest rate that adjusts annually based on the one-year Constant Maturity Treasury Bill Index, after a one, three, four, five, seven or nine-year initial fixed-rate period. Its adjustable rate mortgage loans generally provide for maximum rate adjustments of 200 basis points per adjustment, with a lifetime maximum adjustment up to 6%, regardless of the initial rate. Its adjustable rate mortgage loans amortize over terms of up to 30 years. During 2009, it originated $49.2 million adjustable rate one-to-four family residential loans and purchased $33 million adjustable rate mortgages.

Farmington Bank originates commercial real estate loans and loans on owner-occupied properties used for a variety of business purposes, including office buildings, industrial and warehouse facilities and retail facilities. As of December 31, 2009, the Bank�� owner-occupied commercial mortgage loans constituted the largest portion of its commercial real estate portfolio. During 2009, commercial mortgage loans totaled $265.5 million and owner-occupied commercial real estate loans totaled $133.3 million of its commercial real estate portfolio.

Farmington Bank offers construction loans, including commercial construction loans and real estate subdivision development loans, to developers, licensed contractors and builders for the construction and development of commercial real estate projects and residential properties. During 2009, the Bank�� loans outstanding, including commercial and residential, totaled $68.7 million! . The Ban! k also originates construction loans to individuals and contractors for the construction and acquisition of personal residences.

Farmington Bank�� commercial business loan portfolio comprises both middle market companies and small businesses located primarily in Connecticut. Farmington Bank�� Resort (Timeshare) Loans include receivables loans, pre-sale loans, inventory loans, acquisition and development loans, and homeowner association loans. During 2009, its timeshare loans totaled $82.8 million. Farmington Bank also offers home equity loans and home equity lines of credit, both of which are secured by owner-occupied one-to-four family residences. At December 31, 2009, home equity loans and equity lines of credit totaled $66.7 million.

Farmington Bank also offers various types of consumer loans, including installment, demand, revolving credit and collateral loans, principally to customers residing in its primary market area with acceptable credit ratings. Its installment and collateral consumer loans generally consist of loans on new and used automobiles, loans collateralized by deposit accounts and unsecured personal loans.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By CRWE]

  First Connecticut Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq:FBNK) reported that its Board of Directors has voted to pay a cash dividend in the amount of $0.03 per share on June 14, 2012 to all shareholders of record as of June 4, 2012.

Top Bank Stocks To Own For 2015: Capital Bank Financial Corp (CBF)

Capital Bank Financial Corp, formerly North American Financial Holdings, Inc., incorporated in 2009, is a bank holding Company. The Company focuses on creating a regional banking franchise in the southeastern region of the United States through organic growth and acquisitions of other banks. As of March 31, 2011, the Bank operated 82 branches in Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina. On July 16, 2010, the Bank acquired approximately $1.2 billion of assets and assumed approximately $960.1 million of deposits of three banks from the federal deposit insurance corporation (FDIC): First National Bank of the South in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Metro Bank of Dade County in Miami, Florida and Turnberry Bank in Aventura, Florida. On September 30, 2010 and January 28, 2011, the Bank consummated controlling investments in TIB Financial and Capital Bank Corp., respectively. The Bank�� products and services included commercial bank business, consumer bank business, Mortgage Banking, and Private Banking, Trust and Investment Management. In October 2012, it acquired Southern Community Financial Corp.

Lending activities

As of March 31, 2011, the Bank�� loans included: Real estate mortgage loans, Commercial and agricultural loans and Home equity loans. Real estate mortgage loans include: Commercial, Residential, and Construction and vacant land. As of March 31, 2011, covered loans were $656.6 million, representing 22.3% of its loan portfolio. As of March 31, 2011, non-covered loans were $2.3 billion, representing 77.6% of its loan portfolio. As of March 31, 2011, loans related to real estate totaled $2.6 billion (or 87% of the Bank�� total loan portfolio). At March 31, 2011, commercial real estate loans in all regions totaled $1.8 billion.

Investment activities

Investment securities represent a major portion of the Bank�� assets. As of March 31, 2011, the Bank�� investment securities included mortgage backed securities, United States government agen! cies, states and political subdivisions, corporate bonds, equity, collateralized debt obligations and foreign government. Of the securities in the portfolio, 94% were rated AAA, and 97% were rated A or higher.

Sources of Funds

As of March 31, 2011, the Bank�� deposits included Non-interest demand deposit accounts, Interest Bearing demand deposit accounts, Savings and Money Market. It also included Customer Time Deposits and Wholesale Time Deposits. At March 31, 2011, total deposits were $3.5 billion of which $3.4 billion (or 97%) were non-brokered deposits and $94.4 million (or 3%) were brokered deposits. At March 31, 2011, the Bank�� core deposits (which are all deposits other than time deposits) consisted of $463.2 million of non-interest checking, $430.7 million of negotiable order of withdrawal accounts, $157.5 million of savings accounts and $456.2 million of money market deposits.

The Bank competes with Bank of America, Wells Fargo, BB&T, First Citizens, Royal Bank of Canada, SunTrust, Regions, FNB United Corp., Toronto-Dominion, Synovus, First Financial, SCBT, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, EverBank, Fifth Third Bancorp, First Horizon, Pinnacle Financial, First South and U.S. Bancorp.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tim Melvin]

  The year ahead should be a great one for the smaller bank stocks. Larger regionals like Huntington Bancorp (HBAN) and Capital Ban Financial (CBF) have made it clear they intend to grow by acquisition in the years ahead. Banks like First Merit (FMER) and First Merchants (FRME) have done deals in the past year and are open to doing more to increase their market share and footprints. This should be the year the floodgates open and we see the first wave of merger activity in small banks.

Top Bank Stocks To Own For 2015: Bank Of Montreal (BMO)

Bank of Montreal, together with its subsidiaries, provides a range of retail banking, wealth management, and investment banking products and solutions in North America and internationally. It offers personal banking products and services to consumers and small businesses, including deposit and investment services, mortgages, consumer credit, small business lending, and other banking services; and commercial banking products and services to small business, medium-sized enterprise, and mid-market banking clients comprising lending, deposits, treasury management, and risk management services. The company also offers cards and payments services; investment and wealth advisory services; self-directed investing services; private banking services to high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients; investment fund solutions across a range of channels; pension plans; investment management services; and creditor insurance, and life insurance and annuity products and services. In add ition, it provides capital markets products and services, including equity and debt underwriting, corporate lending and project financing, mergers and acquisitions, restructurings and recapitalizations, balance sheet management, liquidity management, merchant banking, securitization, foreign exchange, derivatives, debt and equity research, and institutional sales and trading to corporate, institutional, and government clients. As of October 31, 2010, Bank of Montreal operated and maintained approximately 1,230 bank branches in Canada and the United States. The company was founded in 1817 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE: TD  ) will release its quarterly report on Thursday, and in general, investors have been pleased with the Canadian bank's prospects over the past several months. But in light of surprisingly negative news from rival Bank of Montreal (NYSE: BMO  ) on Tuesday, Toronto-Dominion Bank will have to demonstrate that it's able to avoid the troubles that hurt its rival's results during the most recent quarter.

• [By Will Ashworth]

  Bank of Montreal (BMO) and National Bank (NTIOF) have already delivered their numbers, and the rest are expected to come tomorrow and Friday. The major Canadian bank stocks are expected to grow earnings between 5% and 7% over last year�� fourth quarter, which is excellent.

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Bank of Montreal� (NYSE: BMO  ) �announced yesterday�its third-quarter dividend of $0.74 per share, the same rate it paid last quarter.

• [By Alyssa Oursler]

  Head north of the border and you’ll come across Bank of Montreal (BMO), our final safe income pick. If you were impressed by Chevron’s century of dividend payments, consider this: BMO has been rewarding loyal shareholders since 1829. For perspective, remember that the U.S. was just over 50 years old at that time.

Top Bank Stocks To Own For 2015: Cambridge Bancorp (CATC)

Cambridge Bancorp, incorporated on December 23, 1982, is a state chartered, federally bank holding company in Cambridge. The Company�� reportable operating segment consists of commercial banking, consumer banking, and trust and investment management services. Cambridge Trust Company (the Bank) is a subsidiary of the Company. The Bank offers a range of commercial and consumer banking services through its network of 12 service banking offices in Massachusetts. The Bank is engaged in the business of attracting deposits from the public and investing those deposits. The Bank invests those funds in various types of loans, including residential and commercial real estate, and a variety of commercial and consumer loans. The Bank also invests its deposits and borrowed funds in investment securities and has three wholly owned Massachusetts Security Corporations, CTC Security Corporation, CTC Security Corporation II and CTC Security Corporation III.

Lending activities

The Bank originates loans to businesses and individuals on both a collateralized and an uncollateralized basis. The Bank�� customer base is concentrated in eastern Massachusetts. The majority of loans to individuals are collateralized by residential real estate, marketable securities or other assets.

Investment activities

The Bank invests in United States government sponsored enterprise (GSE) obligations, mortgage-backed securities, mutual funds and municipal securities. As a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) of Boston (the FHLB Boston), the Bank is required to invest in stock of the FHLB Boston in an amount based upon itsadvances from the FHLB Boston.

Sources of Funds

The Bank attracts deposits, such as demand deposits (non-interest bearing), interest bearing checking, money market, savings, certificates of deposit under $100,000 and certificates of deposit $100,000 or greater. Its short term borrowings consist of treasury, tax and loan notes, and FHLB Bost! on overnight borrowings.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By CRWE]

  Last Friday, CATC previously surged (+0.26%) up +0.10 at $39.00 with 600 shares in play at the close (ref. google finance July 26, 2013 ��Close).

  Cambridge Bancorp previously reported unaudited net income of $3,475,000 for the second quarter of 2013 compared to $3,451,000 for the same quarter in 2012. The slight increase in earnings was primarily attributable to growth in noninterest income, offset by a decrease in net interest income. Diluted earnings per share were $0.89 for the second quarter of 2013, unchanged versus for the same quarter in 2012. For the six months ended June 30, 2013, unaudited net income was $6,806,000 compared to $6,736,000 for the first half of 2012. Diluted earnings per share were $1.75 for the first six months of 2013 versus $1.74 for the same period in 2012.

• [By CRWE]

  Today, CATC has shed (-0.26%) down -0.10 at $38.90 with 500 shares in play thus far (ref. google finance Delayed: 11:24AM EDT July 22, 2013), but don�� let this get you down.

  Cambridge Bancorp previously reported unaudited net income of $3,475,000 for the second quarter of 2013 compared to $3,451,000 for the same quarter in 2012. The slight increase in earnings was primarily attributable to growth in noninterest income, offset by a decrease in net interest income. Diluted earnings per share were $0.89 for the second quarter of 2013, unchanged versus for the same quarter in 2012. For the six months ended June 30, 2013, unaudited net income was $6,806,000 compared to $6,736,000 for the first half of 2012. Diluted earnings per share were $1.75 for the first six months of 2013 versus $1.74 for the same period in 2012.

Top Bank Stocks To Own For 2015: 1st United Bancorp Inc (FUBC)

1st United Bancorp, Inc. (Bancorp) is a financial holding company. 1st United Bank, a Florida state chartered bank, is Bancorp�� wholly owned subsidiary. The Company offers its customers, professionals, high net-worth individuals and small and medium-sized businesses, a variety of traditional loan, deposit and cash management products. As of December 31, 2010, Bancorp operated banking center from 15 locations consisting of four banking centers in Palm Beach County, four banking centers in Broward County, four banking centers in Miami-Dade County, and one banking center each in Sebastian, Vero Beach and Barefoot Bay, Florida. As of December 31, 2010, the total assets of Bancorp were at 1.268 billion and the total loans of the Company were at $847.7 million. As of December 31, 2010, its total deposits were $1.064 billion. On January 8, 2011, the Company purchased all of the assets of The Bank of Miami, National Association (The Bank of Miami). Effective April 1, 2012, the Company merged with Anderen Financial, Inc. (Anderen), under which it acquired Anderen and its subsidiary, Anderen Bank. In July 2013, 1st United Bancorp Inc completed its acquisition by merger of Enterprise Bancorp Inc (EBI) and its wholly owned subsidiary Enterprise Bank of Florida.

Investment Activity

Bancorp�� investment portfolio includes several callable agency debentures, mortgage-backed securities, adjustable rate mortgage pass-throughs, and collateralized mortgage obligations. As of December 31, 2010, the investment portfolio of the Company was at $102,289, 000.

Lending Activity

Bancorp offers a range of loans to its customers. The Company includes commercial loans, which include collateralized loans for working capital (including inventory and receivables), business expansion (including real estate construction, acquisitions and improvements), and purchase of equipment and machinery; small business loans, including small business administration (SBA) lending; Export-Im! port Bank insured or guaranteed loans; residential real estate loans to enable borrowers to purchase, refinance, construct upon or improve real property, and home equity loans, and consumer loans, including collateralized and uncollateralized loans for financing automobiles, boats, home improvements, and personal investments. As of December 31, 2010, the Company�� Commercial and Industrial loans were approximately $10.3 million, in Export Import (EXIM) loans which have either insurance or a guarantee of between 90% and 100% from the Export-Import Bank of the United States.

Through the Company�� lending division and SBA division, its commercial real estate loan portfolio includes loans secured by office buildings, warehouses, retail stores and other properties, which are located in or near the markets. Commercial real estate loans are generally originated in amounts up to 80% of the appraised value of the property securing the loan. It originates a mix of fixed rate and adjustable rate residential mortgage loans. It offers adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs), and maintains these ARMs in the portfolio or sells the ARMs in the secondary market.

The construction loan portfolio includes residential real estate, commercial real estate and homeowners��association projects. Through the business lending divisions, the Company offers real estate construction loans to individuals for the construction of their residences, to businesses and business owners primarily for owner-occupied, commercial real estate, and to homeowners��associations for general repair and/or improvements to the properties. The Company has construction loans on commercial real estate projects secured by industrial properties, office buildings or other property. The land loan portfolio includes exposure to land development, both residential and commercial. As of December 31, 2010, approximately $7.0 million or 21% of the construction and land development loan portfolio was part of the Loss Share Agreements.

T! he Company originates consumer loans bearing both fixed and prime-based variable interest rates. It originates the loans directly through the banking centers, business bankers and residential lenders. It focus the consumer lending on the origination of direct second mortgage loans and home equity loans (secured by a junior lien on residential real property), and home improvement loans. Second mortgage and home improvement loans generally originate on either a line of credit or a fixed term basis ranging from 5 to 15 years. It also extends personal loans, which may be secured by various forms of collateral, both real and personal, or to a minimal extent, on an unsecured basis.

The Company focus on the commercial loan market consists of small- to medium-sized businesses with combined borrowing needs up to $20.0 million. These businesses include professional associations (physicians, law firms, and accountants), medical services, retail trade, construction, transportation, wholesale trade, manufacturing, and tourism-related service industries. Its commercial loans are derived from the market area and underwritten on the basis of the borrowers��ability to service, such debt from recurring income. The EXIM lending operation makes loans to companies that export United States goods and services to international markets and makes loans to foreign companies to facilitate the purchase of United States goods. As of December 31, 2010, it had approximately $10.3 million in Exim loans.

Deposits

Bancorp maintains a range of deposit accounts to meet the needs of the residents and businesses in the primary service area. Products include an array of checking account programs for individuals and small businesses, including money market accounts, certificates of deposit, individual retirement account (IRA) accounts, and sweep investment capabilities. As of December 31, 2010, the Company had approximately $309.5 million in deposits by foreign nationals banking in the United States. A! s of Dece! mber 31, 2010, it had approximately $70 million in wholesale certificates of deposit.

The Company competes with Bank of America, SunTrust Bank, Wells Fargo, JP Morgan Chase & Co., BB&T, PNC, Citigroup and BankUnited, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Marc Bastow]

  The biggest increase among our dividend stocks this week came from Boca Raton, Florida-based financial holding company 1st United Bancorp (FUBC), who raised its quarterly dividend 100% to 2 cents per share, payable March 7 to shareholders of record as of Feb. 24.
  FUBC Dividend Yield: 1.07%

Top Bank Stocks To Own For 2015: CommunityOne Bancorp (COB)

CommunityOne Bancorp , formerly FNB United Corp., incorporated in 1984, is a bank holding company. The Company has two banking subsidiaries: CommunityOne Bank, N.A. (CommunityOne), a national banking association, and through Bank of Granite Corporation (Granite Corp.), Bank of Granite (Granite), a state-chartered bank headquartered in Granite Falls, North Carolina. As of December 31, 2011, CommunityOne had 45 branches, $843.9 million in loans and $1.4 billion in deposits. As of December 31, 2011, Granite had 18 branches, $373.9 million in loans and $688.5 million in deposits. Through its banking subsidiaries, it offers a line of consumer, mortgage and business banking services, including loan, deposit, cash management, investment management and trust services, to individual and business customers through operations located in Alamance, Alexander, Ashe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Chatham, Gaston, Guilford, Iredell, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Moore, Orange, Randolph, Richmond, Rowan, Scotland, Watauga and Wilkes counties in North Carolina. On October 21, 2011, it acquired Granite Corp., through the merger of a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, Gamma Merger Corporation, merging into Granite Corp, with Granite Corp. continuing as the surviving corporation and as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. On June 8, 2013, CommunityOne Bank, N.A., the principal bank subsidiary of FNB United Corp. announced that it had completed the merger of its sister bank, Bank of Granite, into CommunityOne.

Lending Activities

The Company's loan portfolio segments are commercial and agricultural, real estate - construction, real estate - mortgage, and consumer loans. The commercial and agricultural portfolio includes owner occupied and non-owner occupied. The real estate - construction portfolio includes retail properties, multi-family, industrial and warehouse, and other commercial real estate. The real estate - mortgage portfolio includes one-to four-family residential and commercial and othe! r. As of December 31, 2011, its total loan portfolio totaled $1.2 billion.

Investment Activities

The Company�� available-for-sale investment securities portfolio includes obligations of the United Sates treasury and government agencies, obligations of the United Sates government sponsored agencies, obligations of states and political subdivisions, residential mortgage-backed securities- (government-sponsored enterprise (GSE)), residential mortgage-backed securities-(Private), and corporate notes. As of December 31, 2011, it no longer had securities in the held-to-maturity portfolio.

Sources of Funds

Traditional deposit accounts are the primary source of funds for the Company. As of December 31, 2011, deposits totaled $2.1 billion, consisting of approximately $234.6 million of non-interest-bearing demand deposits, $349 million of interest-bearing demand deposits, $68 million of savings deposits, approximately $431.7 million of money market deposits, $112 million of brokered deposits, $538 million of time deposits less than $100,000, and $398 million of time deposits $100,000 or more. As of December 31, 2011, it had $8.8 million of total short-term borrowings. As of December 31, 2011, its long-term debt included $58 million of Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) advances and $56 million of junior subordinated debt. Funds are borrowed on an overnight basis through retail repurchase agreements with bank customers and federal funds purchased from other financial institutions. Retail repurchase agreement borrowings are collateralized by securities of the United Sates Treasury and the United Sates Government agencies and corporations. As of December 31, 2011, CommunityOne and Granite had no lines of credit at the Federal Reserve Bank. As of December 31, 2011, CommunityOne had an available line of credit of $80.5 million with the FHLB and Granite had no line of credit with the FHLB.

Subsidiary Activity

CommunityOne owns three subsidiari! es, which! include Dover Mortgage Company (Dover), First National Investor Services, Inc. and Premier Investment Services, Inc. (Premier). Dover ceased operations during the year ended December 31, 2011, and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on February 15, 2012. First National Investor Services, Inc. holds deeds of trust for CommunityOne. Premier is inactive. Through Granite Corp., it also own Granite Mortgage, Inc., which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on February 15, 2012. FNB also owns FNB United Statutory Trust I, FNB United Statutory Trust II, and Catawba Valley Capital Trust II, which were formed to facilitate the issuance of trust preferred securities.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sofia Horta e Costa]

  Cobham Plc (COB), the world�� largest maker of airborne refueling kits, tumbled 4.6 percent to 272.9 pence. An investor, who was not named, was sold 39.1 million shares at 273.5 pence to market price, according to terms obtained by Bloomberg News.

Top Bank Stocks To Own For 2015: Bank Rakyat Indonesia Persero Tbk PT (BKRKY)

PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (the Bank) is an Indonesia-based financial institution. It is engaged in banking activities and its products and services include savings, loans, credits, treasury products and investment banking. It provides service to micro, small and middle enterprise (SME). Besides that, the Bank also engages in providing consumer finance as well as e-banking services which can be accessed by Internet, telephone, Short Message Service (SMS) and other e-channel service such as Cash Deposit Machine (CDM), Electronic Data Capture (EDC), and KiosK. The Bank's subsidiaries are PT Bank BRISyariah, PT Bank Agroniaga Tbk and BRIngin Remittance Co. Ltd. The Bank has an international branch in Cayman Islands and two representative offices in New York and Hong Kong. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Holly LaFon]

  Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BKRKY) (Persero) Tbk PT, a leading commercial bank and microfinance lender in Indonesia, declined in the third quarter. Recent stock performance was largely attributable to a significant drop in the Indonesian Rupiah. While we believe the company's fundamentals and competitive position remain sound, the country suffered a larger than expected deterioration in its current account deficit, leading to a weaker currency and higher interest rates, which negatively impacted its local equity market. (Michael Kass)