Two U.S. banks seized, making 36 failures

CHAMPAIGN, Ill., May 23 (UPI) -- Two Illinois banks have been shuttered by regulators, marking the 35th and 36th bank closings in the United States so far this year, officials said.

Strategic Capital Bank of Champaign and Citizens National Bank of Macomb were closed Friday, Marketwatch reported.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said Strategic Capital had $471 million in deposits and $537 million in assets as of May 13, with Midland States Bank of Effingham, Ill., agreeing to acquire about $536 million worth of Strategic Capital's assets.

Morton Community Bank of Morton, Ill., meanwhile, has reportedly agreed to assume Citizens National's roughly $400 million in deposits and $437 million in assets.

Analysts told The Wall Street Journal the two Illinois bank seizures are the latest evidence that smaller banks across the United States are being squeezed by mortgage and other loan-related losses.

The newspaper said the 36 failures in 2009 are 11 more than the 25 recorded for all of last year, with dozens more banks expected to collapse through 2010.