Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1544936
4 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | MAY 18, 2026 million in assets and 9,504 members at the end of 2025. Waterbury Postal Employees had about $10.9 million in assets and 958 members. America's First converted to a state charter in 2016 and adopted a network model that allows other credit unions to operate as divisions. Nine Connecticut credit unions have since joined the organization. Former Hartford arts council CEO sues over firing Former Greater Hartford Arts Council CEO Shelley Best has filed a federal lawsuit against her former employer, alleging race, sex and age discrimination, unequal pay and defa- mation tied to her 2024 termination. Best claims she was paid less than prior white executives and wrongfully fired following allegations of financial misconduct and poor leadership that she disputes. Her firing followed an internal board investigation, after which the arts council said her actions were "inconsistent with GHAC's procedural policies, as well as code of conduct, culture and values." Best led the nonprofit from April 2022 until her dismissal in September 2024. She is seeking back pay, damages and other relief. BIZ BRIE FS life-science instruments. The company said changing market conditions for those products led to the closure decision, and production work will be shifted to another IDEX facility. CT bank plans NY expansion A Connecticut bank with two loca- tions in lower Fairfield County plans to expand into New York. DR Bank has applied to open a branch in White Plains, New York, according to a filing with the Connecticut Department of Banking. DR Bank, with $838.8 million in assets, currently operates branches at its Darien headquarters and in Norwalk's Rowayton section. Founded in 2006 as Darien Rowayton Bank, the institution later rebranded as DR Bank after selling its digital lending division to KeyBank in 2019. Rallybio merger scrapped; New Haven biotech to receive $50M breakup fee Rallybio Corp. said its planned merger with San Diego-based Candid Therapeutics has been terminated, with the New Haven biotechnology company set to receive a $50 million breakup fee. Candid ended the merger agreement after entering into a separate transac- tion with Belgian biopharmaceutical company UCB S.A., according to a regulatory filing. The deal, announced in March, would have ended Rallybio's run as a standalone public company. Instead, Rallybio said it will remain independent and continue evaluating strategic alternatives. Rallybio develops treatments for rare and severe diseases. The company has reduced operations in recent years amid funding challenges and workforce cuts. State approves CT credit unions merger The Connecticut Department of Banking has approved a proposed merger between East Hartford-based America's First Credit Union and Waterbury Postal Employees Federal Credit Union. Under the deal, Waterbury Postal Employees will merge into America's First, with the transaction expected to close in the second quarter of 2026. America's First had about $102.6 Continued from page 3 DR Bank's Rowayton branch. Photo | CoStar Rallybio is headquartered at 234 Church St. in New Haven. Photo | CoStar Shelley Best