Community Bank System gets regulatory approval for Elmira Savings Bank acquisition

DeWITT, N.Y. — Community Bank System, Inc. (NYSE: CBU) on Friday announced that is has received regulatory approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for its acquisition of Elmira Savings Bank (NASDAQ: ESBK).

The DeWitt–based banking company also said it obtained a waiver from filing an application with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for the transaction.

The acquisition, which was valued at about $83 million when first announced last fall, is expected to close on May 13, subject to customary closing conditions and approval from the New York State Department of Financial Services.

“Community Bank looks forward to welcoming Elmira Savings Bank’s customers and employees to our family as we work together to integrate two high-quality banks with long histories of service to their customers and communities,” Mark Tryniski, president and CEO of Community Bank System, said in a release. “We are dedicated to Elmira Savings Bank’s customers and both teams are working to make the transition to Community Bank as seamless as possible. We hope that our new customers will enjoy the larger branch network and variety of financial services Community Bank and its subsidiaries have to offer.”

Last Oct. 4, Community Bank System first announced that it would acquire Elmira Savings Bank in an all-cash transaction valued at $82.8 million. Community Bank believes the transaction will provide it with an “improved presence” in several Central New York and Southern Tier markets, including Elmira, Corning, and Ithaca.

Elmira Savings Bank has $632 million in total assets and 12 branches across a five-county area, mostly in the Southern Tier.