The Ave Herald

Florida Community Bank was closed by state banking regulators, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) announced Friday. The FDIC said the failed bank's assets will be taken over by Premier American Bank of Miami and branches will open Monday and continue to do business, still using the name Florida Community Bank.

Depositors can continue to write checks this weekend and access their money through ATMs, the FDIC said. The FDIC has also set up a toll-free number for Florida Community Bank customers to call with any questions between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. The number is 1-800-523-8275.

FCB's headquarters was in Immokalee, but it had planned to relocate to Ave Maria. Its headquarters building in the Ave Maria town center (right) was constructed and furnished but the move was put on hold as part of a formal enforcement action by state regulators in 2007. Blake Gable, president of the Real Estate division of the Barron Collier Cos., said it may take several months to determine what will happen to the premises that were planned as the headquarters building. Another bank, TIB, has been seeking regulatory approval to install an ATM in the town center.

For anyone who has a relationship with Florida Community Bank, the FDIC has posted information on its website here. The FDIC's press release is here.

Other news stories are available from:

The Naples Daily News 
The News Press