Americas

Eight hostages were released and are all believed to be unharmed.

Bill Eckhardt will be succeeded by EVP Geoff Lundfelt.

Valley National Bancorp in Wayne, N.J., has promoted Dianne Grenz to become its chief consumer banking officer.

CenterState Banks in Winter Haven, Fla., is looking to raise at least $60 million through a public offering.

Columbia Banking System in Tacoma, Wash., landed the first sizeable deal of the New Year with an agreement to buy Pacific Continental in Eugene, Ore.

Eastern Bank in Boston has hired a former Citi Cards executive to oversee its consumer-lending business.

Wayne Savings Bancshares in Wooster, Ohio, is facing pressure to sell itself just weeks after its CEO resigned.

Cardtronics has completed its acquisition of Canadian ATM operator DirectCash Payments.

A 2018 deadline to automate government payments is fast approaching. Only with a mix of technology solutions and cooperation among agencies can that deadline be met.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. reached an agreement to continue accepting Visa Inc. credit cards in Canada, ending the retailer’s threat to bar the world’s largest payments network from its 409 stores in the country.