Location Root Tag

Sterling Financial in Spokane, Wash., has gone ahead with rebranding its California operations as Argent Bank despite its recent merger announcement.

Webster Financial in Waterbury, Conn, said Gerald Plush, its president and chief operating officer, will step down at the end of the month.

Investar Bank in Baton Rouge, La., is getting ready to go public.

NewBridge Bancorp (NBBC) in Greensboro, N.C., has received regulatory approval to buy struggling mutual Security Savings Bank in Southport, N.C.

Midland States Bancorp in Effingham, Ill., has agreed to buy Heartland Bank in St. Louis to lower its reliance on interest income, strengthen fee income and improve its chances at going public.

The $552 million-asset company announced the formation of wholly-owned subsidiary Mackinac Commercial Credit in a press release Friday.

Washington Trust Bancorp (WASH) in Westerly, R.I., has hired a veteran banker as its president and chief operating officer.

Cordia Bancorp (BVA) in Midlothian, Va., has hired Mark Severson as chief financial officer.

Wesley A. Brown, a Denver investment banker and member of the Alpine Rescue Team, is trained to save your bank — or you, if you get stuck in the mountains of Colorado. Recent floods there put his skills, and those of his teammates, to the test.

Penns Woods Bancorp (PWOD) in Williamsport, Pa., has picked Robert Glunk to be the next president of Luzerne Bank, a subsidiary it acquired this year.

Two River Community Bank (TRCB) in Tinton Falls, N.J., has hired Anthony Mero as its chief operating officer.

Self-Help Federal Credit Union, the California community development credit union that bought Second Federal Savings & Loan last year, has officially reopened the failed thrift in conjunction with Chicago's Resurrection Project.

East West of Los Angeles hopes that buying MetroCorp in Houston will help its Chinese clients develop business ties in the Lone Star State.

Tracy Grooms, formerly of Bank of America, did not stay retired long. Queens University has hired her to teach undergraduates about banking at its business school, which is named after the most famous B of A exec of all.

James Watson, the bank's president, will become CEO on Oct. 1, the $1.1 billion-asset company said Thursday.

MidSouth Bancorp in Lafayette, La., plans to list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange on Monday. It will keep its current ticker symbol, MSL.

Chemung Financial (CHMG) in Elmira, N.Y., has lured John Battersby out of retirement to serve as interim chief financial officer.

Westby Co-Op Credit Union in Wisconsin has agreed to buy the deposits and loans of a Walmart branch from Citizens Community Bancorp (CZWI) in Eau Claire, Wis.

East West Bancorp (EWBC) in Pasadena, Calif., has agreed to pay $273 million in stock and cash for MetroCorp Bancshares (MCBI) in Houston.

The Central Bank's surprise decision to continue buying mortgage bonds may not spark another refinancing boom, but it could spur more home purchases.