New York

Empire National Bank said that the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has ended a formal agreement after the Islandia, N.Y., bank improved its liquidity management and reduced credit concentrations.

Hudson Valley Holding Corp. (HVB) has completed the sale of $474 million in loans after it was required to reduce its concentrations in commercial real estate and classified loans.

Three years after shutting down its indirect automobile lending unit because it lacked scale, First Niagara Financial Group (FNFG) in Buffalo is jumping back into the business in a big way.

Tompkins Financial in Ithaca, N.Y., is planning to raise $30 million in a secondary stock offering and may use the proceeds to redeem securities issued to VIST Financial through the Treasury Department's Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Provident New York Bancorp (PBNY) in Montebello has added its fifth commercial banking team in the New York City market since January.

Cross County Federal Savings Bank in Middle Village, N.Y., is converting to a state charter from a federal charter.

Suffolk Bancorp in Riverhead, N.Y., has hired a New York banking veteran as chief lending officer and picked a chief credit officer.

Madison National Bancorp Inc. said on Monday that Daniel L. Murphy, the co-chairman and chief executive of the Melville, N.Y., company, has died.

First Niagara Financial Group Inc. of Buffalo, N.Y., has shifted its small-business banking focus away from individual branches to a newly created business unit that will be solely dedicated to attracting and retaining small-business customers.

Provident New York Bancorp in Montebello said in a shelf registration that it may raise up to $75 million through the sale of various securities.

First Niagara Financial Group Inc. expects to close 35 branches after it completes its acquisition of HSBC Holdings Plc's branches in mid-May.

Carver Bancorp Inc. in New York reported a loss of $700,000 for its fiscal third quarter, as the recapitalized company took steps to mark down its problems assets.

Evans Bancorp Inc. in Angola, N.Y., has reported that fourth-quarter income more than doubled from a year ago, to $1.3 million, due to higher net interest income and a lower provision for loan and lease losses.

Sterling Bancorp's fourth-quarter profit rose 51% from a year earlier, to 5.3 million, as loan volume and net interest income improved.

Dime Community Bancshares Inc. in Brooklyn, N.Y., said that fourth-quarter profit rose, despite a decline in net interest income, because of a lower loan-loss provision.

The Ithaca, N.Y., bank has been scouting for deals and said Thursday it has agreed to buy VIST Financial in southeastern Pennsylvania for $86 million in stock.

Suffolk Bancorp in Riverhead, N.Y., said late Wednesday that it has a new accounting firm.

Astoria Financial Corp. in Lake Success, N.Y., said late Wednesday that its fourth-quarter profits fell 50% from a year earlier, to $11.8 million, because of decreases in average interest-earning assets.

Tompkins Financial Corp. in Ithaca, N.Y., reported higher quarterly and annual earnings on Wednesday despite mounting pressure in its net interest margin.

New York Community Bancorp Inc. in Westbury, N.Y., reported Wednesday that fourth-quarter profits fell more than 21% from a year earlier, to $117.7 million, due largely to a decline in noninterest income.