Small banks in Ga., Mich. closed

WASHINGTON - Regulators have shut small banks in Georgia and Michigan, bringing the number of bank failures this year to 117 amid the struggling economy and a cascade of defaults on loans.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation on Friday took over United Security Bank, based in Sparta, with $157 million in assets and $150 million in deposits, and Home Federal Savings Bank in Detroit, with $14.9 million in assets and $12.8 million in deposits.

Ameris Bank, based in Moultrie, agreed to assume the assets and deposits of United Security, while Liberty Bank and Trust Company, based in New Orleans, is buying the assets and deposits of Home Federal Savings.