Americas

Midland States Bancorp in Effingham, Ill., has agreed to buy Heartland Bank in St. Louis to lower its reliance on interest income, strengthen fee income and improve its chances at going public.

The $552 million-asset company announced the formation of wholly-owned subsidiary Mackinac Commercial Credit in a press release Friday.

Washington Trust Bancorp (WASH) in Westerly, R.I., has hired a veteran banker as its president and chief operating officer.

Cordia Bancorp (BVA) in Midlothian, Va., has hired Mark Severson as chief financial officer.

Wesley A. Brown, a Denver investment banker and member of the Alpine Rescue Team, is trained to save your bank — or you, if you get stuck in the mountains of Colorado. Recent floods there put his skills, and those of his teammates, to the test.

Penns Woods Bancorp (PWOD) in Williamsport, Pa., has picked Robert Glunk to be the next president of Luzerne Bank, a subsidiary it acquired this year.

Two River Community Bank (TRCB) in Tinton Falls, N.J., has hired Anthony Mero as its chief operating officer.

Self-Help Federal Credit Union, the California community development credit union that bought Second Federal Savings & Loan last year, has officially reopened the failed thrift in conjunction with Chicago's Resurrection Project.

East West of Los Angeles hopes that buying MetroCorp in Houston will help its Chinese clients develop business ties in the Lone Star State.

Tracy Grooms, formerly of Bank of America, did not stay retired long. Queens University has hired her to teach undergraduates about banking at its business school, which is named after the most famous B of A exec of all.