Pennsylvania

NexTier Inc. in Butler, Pa., announced Wednesday that a private-equity firm, Snyder Group, has agreed to buy a 51% stake in the struggling company.

For all the excitement generated by mergers and acquisitions across the Northeast, there is little else in the region to arouse bankers' enthusiasm.

Beneficial Mutual Bancorp Inc. in Philadelphia swung to a $9 million loss in 2010, primarily as a result of higher credit costs.

Tower Bancorp Inc. in Harrisburg, Pa., announced last week that nine directors resigned as part of a plan to streamline its board.

National Penn Bancshares Inc. in Boyertown, Pa., said Thursday that net income fell 36% in the fourth quarter from a year earlier but asset quality trends continued to improve.

First National Community Bancorp Inc. of Dunmore, Pa. has hired investment bank Sandler O'Neill Partners LP to help it evaluate "capital and strategic alternatives."

Susquehanna Bancshares Inc. in Lititz, Pa., announced an agreement to buy Abington Bancorp Inc. in Jenkinton, Pa.

Tower Bancorp Inc. of Harrisburg, Pa., reported a surprising fourth-quarter loss Wednesday. It came from a spike in Tower's loan-loss provision, along with expenses tied to its December purchase of the struggling First Chester County Corp.

Northwest Bancshares Inc. in Warren, Pa., said Tuesday that it is closing its Florida operation. The $8.1 billion-asset company said its board had authorized the closing of its three Florida branches.

F.N.B. Corp. in Hermitage, Pa., promoted a company insider to president. Vincent Delie Jr. was also named the chief executive of First National Bank, the $9 billion-asset company said Thursday.

Codorus Valley Bancorp Inc. in York, Pa., reported a slight dip in fourth-quarter earnings compared to a year earlier.

Fourth-quarter earnings at Fulton Financial Corp. in Lancaster, Pa., improved from a year earlier in part because of higher mortgage income and a lower loan-loss provision.

Though it's the big banks that are working with energy companies, smaller institutions still expect huge opportunities, some risks aside, to serve ancillary businesses and consumers.

National Penn Bancshares Inc. in Boyertown, Pa., has announced the completion of a $150 million recapitalization with the private-equity firm Warburg Pincus.

Tower Bancorp Inc. of Harrisburg, Pa., said Wednesday it may cost up to $5.6 million to shut down the former mortgage division of First Chester County Corp., a bank Tower bought in December.

First Commonwealth Financial Corp. in Indiana, Pa., has named a company insider to become its chief risk officer.

Several companies kicked off 2011 by completing acquisitions.

Susquehanna Bancshares Inc. in Lititz, Pa., has brought in a new chief operating officer. The $14 billion-asset company said in a Dec. 30 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that it had hired Gregory Duncan to succeed Eddie L. Dunklebarger on Jan. 28.

Tower Bancorp Inc. of Harrisburg, Pa., is discontinuing the operations of a mortgage division that belonged to First Chester County Corp., a bank it bought last month.

Several banks rushed to repay investments under the Troubled Asset Relief Program in December, but hundreds head into the new year desperate for an exit strategy, even if it means selling.