New York

Thanks to redevelopment efforts in the once-neglected downtown areas of Buffalo, Detroit and other cities, banks are seeing improvements to their bottom lines. Banks and developers credit a federal historic tax credit program for the results.

A consumer debt collection agency was shut down by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman on Thursday morning after dozens of complaints were filed about the company's business tactics.

Sterling Bancorp (STL) in Montebello, N.Y., said that its fiscal second-quarter profit rose 58% after it expanded through its merger with Provident New York Bancorp.

Four nonbank lenders have agreed to reimburse consumers and pay penalties in connection with medical loans that violated New York usury and other laws, state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said Wednesday.

New York Community Bancorp (NYCB) in Westbury reported lower quarterly earnings as mortgage-related income plummeted.

Drexel Hamilton, a startup broker-dealer making inroads in capital markets, pairs Wall Street pros with disabled military veterans, training the latter for new careers. It's a nice story, but in the ultra-competitive market of small-bank advising, will it sell?

Amalgamated Bank in New York has named a president to succeed Ed Grebow, but the union-owned bank is still looking for a permanent chief executive.

First Niagara Financial Group's (FNFG) first-quarter profit fell 11.7% as job cuts and branch closures increased expenses.

M&T Bank (MTB) in Buffalo announced that former vice chairman Michael Pinto has died.

Community Bank System (CBU) in Syracuse, N.Y., reported higher profits on payback from a branch acquisition and stronger credit quality.

Arrow Financial Corporation (AROW) in Glens Falls, N.Y., said Monday that its first-quarter earnings climbed nearly 3% from the same period last year, to $5.3 million, as its loan portfolio continued to expand and asset quality remained strong.

Astoria Financial (AF) in Lake Success, N.Y., reported higher quarterly profit aided by state income tax breaks.

Robert Wilmers, chairman and CEO of M&T Bank, told shareholders at its annual meeting that times are tough for banking and that the continued delay of its Hudson City deal, and associated high costs, are disappointing. But he insisted that the deal is still worth doing.

M&T Bank (MTB) in Buffalo reported lower earnings in the first quarter as customer activity dwindled in the first two months of 2014 and costs associated with regulatory requirements grew.

Bridgehampton National Bank (BDGE) in New York has expanded its ATM network to include 20 self-service machines bearing its trademark sailboat logo.

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. — Matteawan FCU has merged with Hudson Valley FCU, the two credit unions announced Tuesday.

Ten auto repossession companies will stop claiming vehicles on behalf of title-loan companies under agreements with New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.

One of the two banks suing retailer Target and security vendor Trustwave in connection with the retailer's high-profile data breach has backed off.

Hudson Valley Holding (HVB) in Yonkers, N.Y., announced Friday that the chief administrative officer of its bank is leaving to take the helm of a New York trust.

The $3 billion-asset said in a press release Thursday that Matthew Lindenbaum, principal of Basswood Capital Management, had become a director.