Centrue to sell branches

Centrue Financial Corp., Ottawa, Ill., will sell three of its Illinois branches to two different banks..Town and Country Bank, Springfield, Ill., will buy Centrue's branch in Fairview Heights, Ill. The purchase includes $13 million in deposits and $7.9 million in loans..First National Bank in Carlyle, Ill., will buy two branches: one in Aviston and one in Breese, Ill. The purchase includes $46.3 million in deposits and $5.1 million in loans.."The sale of these branches allows us to gain greater efficiencies in our core markets and to focus our sales efforts in those anchor communities," said Kurt R. Stevenson, president and CEO of the $942 million Centrue..Both sales are expected to close in the second quarter. After the deal, Centrue will have 20 branches in Illinois and Missouri..Centrue was advised by Boenning & Scattergood, Inc. as financial advisor and Howard & Howard Attorneys PLLC as legal counsel.