Top 10 Bank Stocks with Highest Short Interest: FBP, WHI, STSA, PCBC, CPF, HAFC, CVBF, BANR, UBSI, OZRK (Aug 13, 2010)

Below are the top 10 Bank stocks with the highest short interest as a percentage of total shares outstanding. Short Squeeze and Short Covering can cause these stocks to rise sharply.

First BanCorp. (NYSE:FBP) has the 1st highest short interest in this segment of the market. Its short interest is 28.3% of its total shares outstanding. Its Days to Cover is 10.58, calculated as current short interest divided by average daily volume. W Holding Company, Inc. (NYSE:WHI) has the 2nd highest short interest in this segment of the market. Its short interest is 22.2% of its total shares outstanding. Its Days to Cover is 4.26, calculated as current short interest divided by average daily volume. Sterling Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:STSA) has the 3rd highest short interest in this segment of the market. Its short interest is 22.0% of its total shares outstanding. Its Days to Cover is 18.57, calculated as current short interest divided by average daily volume. Pacific Capital Bancorp (NASDAQ:PCBC) has the 4th highest short interest in this segment of the market. Its short interest is 21.7% of its total shares outstanding. Its Days to Cover is 5.62, calculated as current short interest divided by average daily volume. Central Pacific Financial Corp. (NYSE:CPF) has the 5th highest short interest in this segment of the market. Its short interest is 20.7% of its total shares outstanding. Its Days to Cover is 20.2, calculated as current short interest divided by average daily volume.

Hanmi Financial Corp (NASDAQ:HAFC) has the 6th highest short interest in this segment of the market. Its short interest is 20.4% of its total shares outstanding. Its Days to Cover is 8.02, calculated as current short interest divided by average daily volume. CVB Financial Corp. (NASDAQ:CVBF) has the 7th highest short interest in this segment of the market. Its short interest is 19.6% of its total shares outstanding. Its Days to Cover is 21.67, calculated as current short interest divided by average daily volume. Banner Corporation (NASDAQ:BANR) has the 8th highest short interest in this segment of the market. Its short interest is 18.3% of its total shares outstanding. Its Days to Cover is 20.57, calculated as current short interest divided by average daily volume. United Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:UBSI) has the 9th highest short interest in this segment of the market. Its short interest is 17.5% of its total shares outstanding. Its Days to Cover is 45.1, calculated as current short interest divided by average daily volume. Bank of the Ozarks, Inc. (NASDAQ:OZRK) has the 10th highest short interest in this segment of the market. Its short interest is 17.0% of its total shares outstanding. Its Days to Cover is 31.75, calculated as current short interest divided by average daily volume.