Commerce Bank

Pittsfield-based Berkshire Hills Bancrop, Inc. has received regulatory approvals to acquire Commerce Bank for $209 million.

The long-time Assabet Valley bank is riding the industry wave of expansion and growth.

Following its completion of an agreement to acquire Worcester-based Commerce Bancshares, net income at Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. grew by 23 percent in the second quarter.

Even if there are fewer reasons than ever to walk into a bank, that hasn't meant branches are closing. Instead, banks are renovating their spaces, going smaller and more informal, and training branch employees to do more of everything a customer may need.

New England's second biggest city may not be New England's biggest city, but for a company from Western Massachusetts attempting to assert itself a dominant regional player in the Northeast and recruit the right mix of talent for the next generation of innovations in banking, Worcester is where you want to be.

Commerce Bank branches in Worcester will keep their name and branding even after they are purchased by Berkshire Hills Bancorp, the parent company of Berkshire Bank.

Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. will acquire Worcester-based Commerce Bancshares Corp. for $209 million in stock, Berkshire Hills announced Monday.

Central Massachusetts professionals joined and were promoted at firms like Becker College, Abby's House, UniBank, Commerce Bank and Webster Five Cents Savings Bank.

An 8-acre site, a rare undeveloped property along Route 20 in south Worcester, has sold for $575,000.

Commerce Bank announced Friday a new assistant vice president in Shana Hazen, a Becker College graduate.