North Bay Business Journal

While many businesses, homebuyers and individuals have benefited from the Federal Reserve’s continuing effort to keep interest rates low, that same economic policy — along with heightened pressure from regulators and tepid demand for new loans — has added up to a time of historic challenge for community lenders in the North Bay and beyond.

Executives at North Bay financial institutions said they saw no clear end for the current conditions.

American River Bank, a subsidiary of American River Bankshares [NASDAQ-GS: AMRB], with the American River Bankshares Foundation awarded $147,500 to nine nonprofit organizations in Northern California, including Legal Aid of Sonoma County. …

Redwood Trust, Inc. (NYSE:RWT) declared a first-quarter regular dividend of 28 cents per share, the first increase in six years. …

Rabobank, N.A., launched a program that automatically rewards customers for everyday banking. …

Redwood Credit Union, in partnership with the Sonoma County Office of Education and Santa Rosa City Schools, plans to offer eighth free 16-hour Financial Academy sessions for Sonoma County high school juniors and seniors on March 19–21. …

The application deadline for the Doyle Scholarship at Santa Rosa Junior College, restored for the 2013–14 academic year, is March 14. …

Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENPH) said the 902-kilowatt photovoltaic project at Strain Ranches in Arbuckle was successfully commissioned. …

SANTA ROSA — An anonymous donation to fund scholarships at Santa Rosa Junior College has grown to $6 million, following an additional $1 million gift from the original donor.

SANTA ROSA — Exchange bank announced a net after tax profit for the third quarter of $3.2 million, 7 percent higher than during the same period last year.

Exchange Bank will resume its regular shareholder dividend, a first step towards restoring the iconic Doyle scholarship that has been awarded to more than 100,000 students attending Santa Rosa Junior College since it was enacted in 1948.

SANTA ROSA — Exchange Bank could be moving closer to reinstating its shareholder dividends, which fund the Doyle college scholarship, after the U.S. Department of the Treasury today announced it has completed the auction of stock in the bank purchased through the Troubled Asset Relief Program in 2008.

SANTA ROSA — In a move that could bring Exchange Bank closer to restoring the shareholder dividend that funds the Doyle college scholarship, the U.S. Department of the Treasury today said it will auction securities in the bank it purchased through the Troubled Asset Relief Program in 2008.

SANTA ROSA – Executives at Santa Rosa’s Exchange Bank see at least two paths to restoring the bank’s shareholder dividend and with it the iconic Doyle college scholarship and are optimistic that one scenario could allow its reinstatement by the end of this year.

SANTA ROSA – The “Bridging the Doyle” fundraising campaign generated more than a quarter of a million dollars this summer to help close the scholarship gap at Santa Rosa Junior College.

SANTA ROSA — The “Bridging the Doyle” fund raising campaign generated more than a quarter of a million dollars this summer to help close the scholarship gap at Santa Rosa Junior College.

SANTA ROSA — Santa Rosa Junior College today announced a $50,000 matching gift pledge for the Doyle Scholarship Fund from tech industry leader John Webley and his wife Jennifer.