Massachusetts

The Worcester, Mass.-based credit union was selected to participate in the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston's Equity Builder program, and can receive up to $110,000 this year to help homeowners with down payments, closing costs and more.

The company's deal for Coastway Bancorp in Rhode Island makes sense since both institutions are former credit unions.

The mutual has agreed to buy Cape Ann Insurance, which specializes in personal insurance products.

This year marks the third consecutive year the league has awarded $125,000 to member credit unions.

The merger in Massachusetts is the latest in the consolidation of the credit union movement, as another tiny credit union is acquired by a much larger counterpart.

The $356 million-asset Bridgewater Credit Union plans to merge into $596 million Merrimack Valley Credit Union in the summer of 2018, pending regulatory approval.

Louise Mills Federal Credit Union will now operate its lone branch as "Louise Mills, a division of Webster First FCU."

Kathleen Henry and Steven Antonakes have been named to the bank's management committee.

The Boston mutual, which lost its innovation team when it spun off Numerated last year, has hired a State Street executive to oversee a plan to encourage all employees to be more creative.

With the state only months away from allowing the sale of pot for recreational use, its top cannabis regulator is urging policymakers to consider creating a public bank to provide services to growers and dispensaries that might otherwise have nowhere else to bank.