In Brief: Opponents Ask Hearing on U.S. Bancorp Deal

Activists opposed to U.S. Bancorp's pending acquisition of Western Bancorp have requested public hearings to air claims that both companies have poor community reinvestment records.

The Greenlining Institute and 13 other groups opposed the deal Tuesday in a letter to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The groups said they are ready to demonstrate that Western discriminates against, and U.S. Bancorp neglects, minority group members.

U.S. Bancorp announced in May its plan to buy the $2.5 billion-asset Western, which is based in Newport Beach, Calif., for $958 million. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
MORE FROM AMERICAN BANKER