The Federal Reserve Board on Friday announced its approval of the applications by (i) Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c., Dublin, Ireland, and M&T Bank Corporation and First Empire State Holding Company, both of Buffalo, New York, to acquire Provident Bankshares Corporation and its subsidiary bank, Provident Bank of Maryland ("Provident Bank"), both of Baltimore, Maryland, pursuant to section 3 of the Bank Holding Company Act; and (ii) Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company, Buffalo, to merge with Provident Bank, pursuant to section 18(c) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, and to operate at the existing branch locations of Provident Bank, pursuant to section 9 of the Federal Reserve Act.
Attached is the Board's Order relating to this action.
