Fidelity moves to repay TARP

Fidelity Southern Corp. is offering shares of its common stock in the hopes of raising money to buy back nearly $50 million in preferred shares it issued as part of a government bank bailout during the financial crisis.

The Atlanta banking company is offering $60 million of its common stock to repay the $48.2 million it owes for Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP, funds. The shares were purchased by the U.S. Treasury in December 2008 and sold for $42.8 million last summer.

Fidelity also plans to purchase its fixed rate trust preferred securities; the outstanding principal is $20.5 million.