New York

The $1.7 billion-asset company said Thursday that it closed two branches last month, and that another four branches will close by next March.

To prove the value of the merger of Provident New York Bancorp and Sterling Bancorp, executives have to increase revenues at a much faster pace than expenses over the long haul, CEO Jack Kopnisky says.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has released Hudson Valley Bank in Yonkers, N.Y., from a 2012 enforcement action.

First Niagara Financial Group (FNFG) in Buffalo, N.Y., has promoted executive John Golding to senior director of small-business banking.

Chemung Financial (CHMG) in Elmira, N.Y., has named Karl Krebs as its new chief financial officer.

Astoria Financial (AF) in Lake Success, N.Y., posted a higher third-quarter profit as improved credit quality more than offset lower mortgage revenue.

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has named veteran litigator Chad Johnson to head the state's investor-protection bureau.

Greater Hudson Bank in Middletown, N.Y., has named its next chief executive.

Hudson Valley Holding in Yonkers, N.Y. has hired James Blose, a longtime advisor, to be its general counsel and secretary.

Bridge Bancorp (BDGE) in Bridgehampton, N.Y., is planning to raise at least $25 million in a public stock offering to support its purchase of FNBNY Bancorp in Merrick, N.Y.

The state has reached a settlement with five payday lenders under which they would be prevented from collecting on certain loans and pay restitution to customers, Eric Schneiderman's office announced Monday.

Bridge Bancorp in Bridgehampton, N.Y., has agreed to buy FNBNY Bancorp in Merrick, N.Y.

Chemung Financial (CHMG) in Elmira, N.Y., has lured John Battersby out of retirement to serve as interim chief financial officer.

TD Bank is content with its branch network along the East Coast and, for now, is not interested in deals that would take it into new markets, according to its chief financial officer.

Kinderhook Bank in New York has promoted its chief financial officer to become its new chief executive.

Provident New York Bancorp (PBNY) and Sterling Bancorp (STL) have reached a settlement with shareholders who alleged that Sterling's board violated its fiduciary duty and failed to disclose crucial information about the two companies' pending merger.

Capital One has bolstered its commercial-lending team by hiring bankers away from JPMorgan Chase and the CIT Group.

Frank and George Hamlin at Canandaigua National are turning letter writing into an art form as they rail against a wave of new bank regulation.

Mark Severson plans to resign from Chemung Financial in Elmira, N.Y., Sept. 13 to pursue another opportunity, the $1.3 billion-asset company said Tuesday in a regulatory filing. Chemung will begin a search for his successor immediately.

The Immigration Bridge Loan Fund aims to help skilled immigrants who are unable to practice the jobs they held in their home countries without additional training in the U.S., the bank said Tuesday.