New Hampshire

PETERBOROUGH, N.H. — Bank credit card growth last year outpaced credit union card growth for the first time since 2007, a figure cards experts say indicates much tougher competition is ahead for CUs, especially around rewards.

The home, the road and credit card rewards are some key areas CUs are zeroing in on as spring approaches.

Third Federal Savings and Loan in Cleveland is planning to expand its residential lending into several additional states.

Eastern Bank in Boston has agreed to acquire Centrix Bank & Trust in New Hampshire in what would be Eastern's first expansion outside Massachusetts.

New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares (NHTB) has made its first bank deal in nearly five years, agreeing to buy Nashua Bank for roughly $19.4 million.

New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares Inc. in Newport said Monday that its chief executive, Stephen W. Ensign, is stepping down and that its president and chief operating officer will take over this role.

Northway Financial Corp. in North Conway, N.H., said Monday that its fourth-quarter earnings fell 95% from the same period in 2010, to $67,000, after it set aside more money for potential losses and absorbed costs related to prepayment of its Federal Home Loan Bank advances.

NBT Bancorp Inc. in Norwich, N.Y., said late Wednesday that it will acquire Hampshire First Bank in Manchester, N.H.

New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares Inc., the parent of Lake Sunapee Bank, is entering the insurance business with its buy of McCrillis and Eldredge Insurance.

Centrix Bank in Bedford, N.H., intends to tap the government's billion Small Business Lending Fund to increase its commercial lending and repay what it borrowed from the Treasury Department's Troubled Asset Relief Program.

President Obama is due to meet today with 11 chief executives of community banks, following up on a meeting with the heads of larger institutions last week.