Bank faces tough times, but won't quit

The survival fight will wage on at Sarasota-based Bank of Commerce, recognized by regulators as one of the more troubled Gulf Coast-based community banks.

The bank's latest move is a new stock offering it sent out Aug. 24 to existing shareholders. The bank seeks up to $15 million in an effort to comply with a consent order regulators issued in March to raise capital and pare down sour loans.

The bank's survival effort, however, will continue largely without Sarasota architect and prominent businessman Don Lawson, a longtime member of the separate boards that oversee the bank and the bank holding company. Lawson, saying he had to spend more time with his business, resigned his board positions Aug. 12. He will now serve in an advisory role.