In Brief: Belmont of West Va. To Sell an Ohio Branch

Citizens Savings Bank of Martins Ferry, Ohio, said it has a deal to buy a branch from Belmont National Bank, Wheeling, W. Va., for an undisclosed price.

The deal would give $140 million-asset Citizens its fifth branch. Belmont, with $428 million of assets, has 13 branches.

William Wallace, executive vice president of Belmont, said the branch- which has only $11 million of deposits-was too small to fit into his bank's commercial strategy.

"Citizens is more concentrated on the consumer side, so it is a better fit for them," he said.

Belmont has owned the branch since 1990, when it bought First National Bank of Jewett, Ohio. The deal is expected to close before yearend.

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