IN BRIEF

Palms hotel-casino taps new president

The Palms on Wednesday named Paul Pusateri president.

In a statement, the Palms said Pusateri brings 20 years of senior-level management experience in hospitality. Pusateri previously served as executive vice president of The Venetian in Las Vegas.

"Paul's innovation, leadership and years of experience across the hotel and gaming industries will be a tremendous asset," Palms owner George Maloof said in the statement.

Pusateri is one of several Sands executives to leave the company this year. Former Sands President William Weidner was ousted from the company in March after disagreements with Sands Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sheldon Adelson.

Fate of local Irwin Union branch still undecided

First Financial Bank of Cincinnati on Wednesday said it hadn't decided what to do with the Irwin Union Bank and Trust branch it acquired from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. on Friday.

Regulators seized control of Irwin Union's assets and deposits and sold them to First Financial.

The local branch at 401 N. Buffalo Drive in June 2008, the last time for which public figures available, had $364 million in deposits.

A First Financial spokeswoman on Wednesday said First Financial was evaluating all 27 branches of Irwin Union and operates the branches in a "business-as-usual" fashion.