Americas

Great Western Bancorp in Sioux Falls, S.D., reported higher quarterly profit on loan growth and improved efficiency.

Webster Financial in Waterbury, Conn., has promoted its head of commercial banking to president of Webster Bank and its holding company.

United Bankshares in Charleston, W.Va., recorded profit growth in the third quarter on higher average earning assets.

California’s Richmond Community Foundation will pursue a new social impact bond vehicle with a $3 million revenue bond private placement it hopes to close next month with the local Mechanics Bank.

MB Financial in Chicago has agreed to buy an asset management firm.

Opus Bank in Irvine, Calif., has promoted Jennifer Simmons to chief operating officer and appointed her to the executive committee.

BOK Financial in Tulsa, Oklahoma, reported a small drop in third-quarter profit, as a decline in the value of mortgage servicing rights offset loan and fee income growth.

New York Community Bancorp has agreed to buy Astoria Financial for about $2 billion in cash and stock, combining two of the largest New York-area banks to create an institution with about $64 billion in total assets.

American Bank in Corpus Christi, Texas, will promote two executives next year, after longtime chairman and chief executive Al Jones retires.

Mercantile Bank in Grand Rapids, Mich., plans to close five branches to cut costs. The $2.9 billion-asset company said in a press release Wednesday that it plans to close the branches in the first quarter.