Retail & Commercial

Freddie Mac in the next month plans to approve three more lenders, including one bank, to make multifamily loans between $1 million and $5 million for GSE purchase and securitization, according to an official. Banks were not initially courted.

Former Rep. Bill Owens has been named a director of Arrow Financial in Glen Falls, N.Y.

Chesapeake Bancorp in Chestertown, Md., has hired Al Wilson as its president and chief executive. Wilson resigned from AmeriServ Financial last month as its chief executive.

Northwest Bancshares in Warren, Pa., has bought B.J. Petruso Agency in Meadville, Pa.

Numerous banks are expected to say they trimmed expenses yet again when they report fourth-quarter results in the coming weeks. But that trend may ebb soon as many executives are forced to spend on technology and to expand their businesses.

JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America plan to start offering FICO scores they have on customers to them for free, according to a statement released Monday by the White House.

Avenue Financial Holdings in Nashville, Tenn., is looking to raise $30 million through an initial public offering.

Ted Peters likes to build things and he does not like retirement. The veteran banker will soon solicit outside investors for a fund that he hopes will amass $100 million to pump into promising community banks.

The mobile platform most bankers had all but given up on is showing signs of life. But the changes seem unlikely to persuade financial institutions, many of which have quietly discontinued or abandoned their native BlackBerry apps.

City Holding in Charleston, W. Va., has sold its insurance division to The Hilb Group, a broker based in Richmond, Va.