Americas

BETHALTO, Ill. — The final bell has rung for School District #9 Credit Union in Granite City, Ill., as it was officially merged into $585 million 1st MidAmerica Credit Union, here.

Sterling Bancorp in Montebello, N.Y., has acquired payroll funding firm Damian Services Corp.

WSFS Financial in Wilmington, Del., has agreed to buy Alliance Bancorp Inc. of Pennsylvania in Broomall.

Wintrust Financial in Rosemont, Ill., has agreed to buy Community Financial Shares in Wheaton, Ill.

Vincent Hui, senior director with Cornerstone Advisors Inc. in Scottsdale, Ariz., said he expects interest rates will go up "a little bit" in 2015, but nowhere near the sharp rise some forecasters predicted near the end of 2014.

A hedge fund is pressuring Webster Financial in Waterbury, Conn., to consider spinning off its health savings account division.

Home Bancorp in Lafayette, La., has converted from a federal savings bank to a national bank charter.

The Texas banker, who chaired the ICBA during the financial crisis, feels much better about the regulatory environment for smaller banks. She just wishes that interest rates would finally rise.

The lobbying group's agenda typically includes a general session featuring top regulators. But with the ICBA's Washington Policy Summit two months away, the group opted to steer the focus of its annual convention toward education.

Eagle Bancorp in Bethesda, Md., is looking to raise funds to exit the Small Business Lending Fund.