Illinois

Centrue Financial in Ottawa, Ill., has agreed to sell three branches in Illinois.

Unfavorable equity markets and lower transaction volumes led Northern Trust Corp. to report a 2% drop in fourth-quarter profit.

Wintrust Financial's fourth-quarter earnings fell 7% from a year earlier, to $35.5 million, as a revenue surge failed to offset the higher costs associated with recent acquisitions.

First Midwest Bancorp in Itasca, Ill., plans to close branches and sell unwanted real estate as customers shift to online banking.

Royal Financial in Chicago has agreed to buy Park Bancorp in Chicago.

The $22 billion-asset Winstrust said in a press release Thursday that it will pay $30 million in cash for the parent of the $125 million-asset Foundations Bank.

The $3.9 billion-asset holding company for Busey Bank redeemed all its remaining shares in the program at a total redemption price of about $72.8 million.

Bank of America has promoted Merrill Lynch wealth management executive Paul Lambert to be the bank's Chicago market president.

An interbank loan market that was created for small and regional banks has begun operations, recording $15 million in transactions on its first day.

The $3.8 billion-asset First Busey said in a press release Thursday that it will pay $210.7 million, or $17.24 a share, in stock for the $1.5 billion-asset Pulaski.

Northern Trust in Chicago has agreed to acquire Aviate Global, an institutional equity brokerage firm in the U.K.

MB Financial in Chicago has agreed to buy American Chartered Bancorp in Chicago.

Parkway Bancorp in Harwood Heights, Ill., no longer plans to buy Park Bancorp in Chicago.

Centrue Financial in Ottawa, Ill., has named a new chairman, after its longtime chairman resigned for health reasons.

First Midwest Bancorp in Itasca, Ill., has agreed to buy NI Bancshares in Sycamore, Ill.

An interbank loan market for community and regional banks, and backed by the Chicago Board Options Exchange, plans to open for business next month.

MB Financial in Chicago has agreed to buy an asset management firm.

Crossroads Bank in Effingham, Ill., has selected Michael Defend as its new chief executive. Defend, who will also serve as president, will step into his new role at the beginning of next year.

The online lender Enova International has hired an ex-HSBC executive as its chief operating officer.

Merger-related expenses took a nearly $6 million bite out of third-quarter earnings at Wintrust Financial in Rosemont, Ill., but its chief executive predicted several recently completed deals will pay off sooner than anticipated.