New Jersey

It will also invest in mortgage and small-business lending and in neighborhood revitalization efforts there. The moves are part of a nationwide expansion by the largest U.S. bank.

Lakeland will expand its operations in three counties in its home state of New Jersey with the $57 million acquisition.

Once a hotbed of activity, the region has reported the fewest bank mergers since the financial crisis.

The company has created a municipal group that will focus on nonpublic financing services at a time when loans to bond issuers are declining.

The New Jersey company will pay $76 million for a bank with a low loan-to-deposit ratio and an SBA lending platform.

Provident Financial said it increased its allowance against a commercial loan after discovering that the borrower overstated the value of its collateral.

Peapack-Gladstone has agreed to buy Lassus Wherley & Associates, which has offices in New Jersey and Florida.

The company will pay $48 million for four branches and $230 million in loans.

New Jersey’s commuter rail and bus system is joining the movement to add contactless payment options for commuters, which observers say could spark broader adoption of mobile payments across the U.S.

A New Jersey community bank has launched a campaign that takes digs at the megabank while highlighting its own values. Should others follow its lead?