Talmer acquires First Place Bank

Talmer acquires First Place Bank

YOUNGSTOWN

Talmer Bank and Trust has acquired First Place Bank in a deal resulting from First Place’s bankruptcy in 2012.

Talmer, which filed for an initial public offering with the Securities and Exchange Commission in December, is officially in a “quiet period” and unable to comment publicly, according to a spokesperson.

Area ranked ninth- lowest in living costs

ARLINGTON, Va.

The Youngstown-Warren metro area ranked ninth- lowest in cost of living out of 308 urban areas, according the Council for Community and Economic Research’s 2013 Cost of Living Index.

The metro area, which includes Mahoning, Trumbull and Mercer counties, had an index of 86.5. The national average was 100.

The index measures regional differences in the cost of consumer goods and services excluding taxes and nonconsumer expenditures, and the composite index is based on housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, health care and miscellaneous goods and services.

Cost of gas increases

COLUMBUS

The cost for a gallon of regular gasoline in Ohio was averaging $3.40 in Monday’s survey from auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and WEX Inc. That’s 9 cents higher than Feb. 3 and up 14 cents from the price two weeks ago.

The national average is about $3.29 per gallon, which is up just a penny from last week and just a few cents higher than this time last month.

The Ohio average is 18 cents lower than this time last year.

The lowest average price in Ohio on Monday was $3.39 in Toledo; the highest was $3.43 in Columbus.

Hot Head Burritos to open 4th location

YOUNGSTOWN

Hot Head Burritos will mark the opening of its fourth area restaurant on the campus of Youngstown State University on Friday.

The new location, at 315 Elm St., will feature outdoor dining.

Franchisee Pam VonBergen of VB Companies and her son Larry VonBergen will operate the store.

Staff reports