Americas

G. Kennedy Thompson, a former chairman and chief executive of Wachovia Corp., will join the board of BNC Bancorp in High Point, N.C.

Baltimore County Savings Bank is looking to switch to a Maryland chartered bank from a federal thrift.

First Place Financial Corp. in Warren, Ohio, has deferred payments on its subordinated debt and preferred shares issued to the Treasury Department to save cash and comply with an enforcement action.

Altura Credit Union in Riverside, Calif., which reported a 2010 loss of $5.8 million, said Friday that it is closing four branches and laying off 26 employees, or 11% of its work force.

Norwood Financial Corp. in Honesdale, Pa., has received approval from shareholders of North Penn Bancorp Inc. to buy the Scranton, Pa., company.

Community Bank System Inc. in DeWitt, N.Y., said Monday that it has completed its acquisition of Wilber Corp.

The Federal Reserve on Friday approved an application by China's Bank of Communications Co. to open a branch in San Francisco.

Members 1st Federal Credit Union in Mechanicsburg, Pa., fresh off a trademark infringement claim with a local bank, filed a new lawsuit Friday against Merrick Bank in South Jordan, Utah.

Skeptics have often viewed banks with in-store branches as unconventional. Still, several community banks have tested the strategy and concluded it has untapped potential.

The OCC closed the $187 million-asset Western Springs National Bank and Trust in Illinois Later, state regulators closed the $145 million-asset Nevada Commerce Bank.