31.   For small community banks, the Fleet sale is a rare opportunity to flesh out local franchises.

32.   For most of their existence, community banks relied on the savings of local townsfolk to fund their operations.

33.   He said there are thousands of examples across the country of small community banks on a corner competing with credit unions right across the street.

34.   His death came as the group was discussing a possible merger with the smaller Independent Bankers Association of Texas, which represents community banks.

35.   Horizon knows it faces competition for small business customers in the region, which is also served by Fleet, BankBoston Corp. and a handful of community banks.

36.   Illinois until recently barred banks from having more than one branch, leaving the local market ripe for mergers with hundreds of small community banks.

37.   In the fall, other new community banks in New Jersey raised capital with relative ease.

38.   In their place, the state is spawning community banks whose executives say they learned hard lessons during the past decade.

39.   It is taking the national banking model to community banks by getting into investment banking, insurance, international banking and Internet banking.

40.   Its banking services are provided by X.com Bank, a division of First Western National Bank, a small community bank based in La Jara, Colo.