Massachusetts banking regulators dismissed OneUnited Bank's application to close a South Florida branch office after the Boston-based bank failed to respond to public comment on the matter, according to a letter from the state Division of Banks. OneUnited, among the nation's largest black-owned banks, applied in July to close one of its two Florida offices, saying it was unprofitable. Massachusetts regulators mailed and e-mailed OneUnited officials a public comment letter criticizing the proposed closing and asked the bank to review it and respond to the division. But the bank, over the course of two months, did not, despite a reminder note in October. As a result, the Banking Division said it considers the application 'withdrawn' and ordered OneUnited to post a notice in the lobby of its Lauderdale Lakes, Fla., branch saying so, according to the letter, dated Nov. 2. OneUnited had already told customers over the summer that it planned to close the branch by Oct. 31. The bank also put the branch's office building on the market for $3.3 million. In a statement Monday the bank said, 'The branch continues to remain open and the building has not been sold. OneUnited is continuing to assess opportunities in the Lauderdale Lakes, FL area, while serving the community.' The lone commenter was Kenneth H. Thomas, a Miami banking consultant and longtime OneUnited critic who specializes in the Community Reinvestment Act, the federal law that requires banks to make loans in the areas where they take deposits. Thomas, in his letter, described OneUnited's lending record in South Florida as poor and urged state and federal regulators to require the bank to submit a plan showing how it would improve its performance - as a condition for closing the branch. Thomas noted that OneUnited is the only African-American-owned bank in South Florida and serves a predominantly minority population in Lauderdale Lakes. In an interview, he said, 'I do believe banks have an affirmative responsibility to serve all their communities.' OneUnited started in Boston in the 1960s but through a series of acquisitions now considers Los Angeles its largest market, followed by Boston, then Miami. The bank has been embroiled in turmoil for two years, since it lost $50 million on investments in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac amid the financial crisis, and then sought $12 million as part of the federal bailout program. US Representative Maxine Waters, a California Democrat, is facing House ethics charges for helping OneUnited executives get a meeting with US Treasury officials to ask for the funds. Her husband was an investor in the bank and a former director. OneUnited may reapply to close the Florida branch, Massachusetts regulators said. But it would have to 'review and analyze' the Thomas comment and report back. 