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Merriman elected to Barclay Damon Management Committee
SYRACUSE — Barclay Damon LLP has announced that Courtney Merriman, a partner in the firm’s Real Estate and Financial Institutions & Lending practice areas, has been elected to the firm’s Management Committee, effective Jan. 1, 2026. Merriman also serves as managing director of Barclay Damon’s Syracuse office. With professional training and experience in New York […]
VIEWPOINT: NYS amends Fair Credit Reporting Act to Limit Use of Credit Reports in Employment
On Dec. 19, 2025, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed Senate Bill S03072 (the Amendment) into law, amending the New York State Fair Credit Reporting Act to restrict the use of consumer credit history for employment purposes. With this amendment, New York joins 10 other states and several major cities, including New York City, which have comparable
Community Bank parent to pay Q1 dividend of 47 cents in April
DeWITT, N.Y. — Community Financial System, Inc. (NYSE: CBU) — parent company of Community Bank, N.A. — says it will pay a quarterly cash dividend
Hochul proposes measures to bring down auto-insurance rates
ALBANY, N.Y. — Gov. Kathy Hochul used her Jan. 13 State of the State address to announce a series of reforms to bring down auto-insurance rates and take action against “bad actors” whose fraudulent claims drive up costs. The new proposals include a “whole-of-government approach” to crack down on auto-insurance fraud. New Yorkers pay some
NYS Insurance Fund offers SUNY students paid internships
ALBANY, N.Y. — The New York State Insurance Fund (NYSIF) is offering SUNY students paid internships. Through the partnership, NYSIF will provide 100 SUNY students with a paid internship at NYSIF offices throughout New York state beginning this year, SUNY Chancellor John King, Jr. announced Dec. 23. NYSIF is the largest workers’-compensation insurer in New
GROW Wealth Partners adds two financial advisors from the Rochester area
PHOENIX, N.Y. — GROW Wealth Partners — an advisory and wealth-management firm with offices in Phoenix, Watertown, and Potsdam — has brought aboard two Rochester–area financial advisors in a merger. Richard Anderson, of Anderson & Associates, and James Farley, of Farley Financial, are merging their operations with GROW Wealth Partners. Both Anderson and Farley are
EBRI presents Lifetime Achievement Award to two benefits-industry leaders
The Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) has recognized two benefits-industry leaders for devoting their careers to “preserving, protecting and enhancing” retirement security and health benefits. The Washington, D.C.–based EBRI has honored Mathew Greenwald, founder & managing director of Greenwald Research, and James Klein, senior advisor with the American Benefits Council, with its 2025 Lifetime Achievement
Fidelis Care presents $15,000 food security grant to Food Bank of Central New York
VAN BUREN, N.Y. — Fidelis Care, a statewide health plan with more than 2.4 million members in New York state and a Centene Corporation company, on Dec. 3 presented a $15,000 Here for Your Health food security grant to Food Bank of Central New York in the town of Van Buren. This grant is one
Fulton CDA receives $368,000 in state funding for homebuyer down payment assistance program
FULTON, N.Y. — The Fulton Community Development Agency (FCDA) on Jan. 13 announced it has been awarded $368,000 in New York State HOME Local funding to operate a homebuyer down payment assistance program in the city of Fulton. The program is designed to expand sustainable homeownership by helping income-eligible, first-time homebuyers overcome the affordability gaps
Community Bank to acquire Indiana bank, boosting wealth-management offerings
DeWITT, N.Y. — Community Financial System, Inc. (NYSE: CBU) on Thursday announced that its wholly owned banking subsidiary, Community Bank, N.A., has entered into an
Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.