Brookline Bank said it plans to acquire Newton-based First Commons Bank for a total transaction value of nearly $56 million in a joint statement yesterday.

This is Brookline’s first acquisition since the $6.7 billion asset bank’s $82 million stock offering earlier in the year.

First Commons Bank has $320 million in assets and two locations, one in Newton and one in Wellesley, both markets that Brookline already has a presence in.

“Brookline’s philosophy on employees and clients is very similar to ours,” First Commons Bank CEO Tony Nuzzo told Banker & Tradesman. “We take a lot of care with clients and employees.”

Under the agreement, Brookline will pay $16.70 per share, or $52.5 million in Brookline stock, for the outstanding shares and warrants of First Commons Bank, as well as $3.4 million in cash for the outstanding options.

Brookline has the option to pay up to 50 percent of the consideration for the outstanding shares in cash.

First Commons Bank stockholders will receive 1.171 shares of Brookline common stock for each First Commons Bank share they own, subject to adjustment based on Brookline’s ten-day, volume-weighted average stock price between $13.19 and $15.33.

First Commons Bank, which does not trade on a public exchange, first launched in 2009 as a nationally chartered bank after raising $18 million.

The goal of the bank, according to Nuzzo, is to satisfy customers in ways that regional and larger banks have not been able to by offering supreme customer service, making quick turnarounds on loans and providing easy access to capital.

Nuzzo, who said First Commons does mostly commercial lending, said the future of the bank’s two physical branch locations is entirely up to Brookline. He also said, given the two banks’ philosophy, he hopes many of the bank’s current employees will be able to continue with Brookline when the acquisition is completed.

With the deal, Brookline is getting a bank that has strong credit quality, with no loans past 30 days due, according to FDIC data.

“We are very pleased to welcome the customers of First Commons Bank to Brookline Bank, and we look forward to getting to know its employees,” Paul Perrault, president and CEO of Brookline Bank, said in a statement. “This combination leverages our unique talents and efforts within greater Boston and strengthens our position in the marketplace.”

Brookline Bank could not immediately be reached for comment.

Brookline Bank Acquires First Commons Bank

by Bram Berkowitz time to read: 2 min
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