Northwest Banks Complete Merger

The largest commercial bank holding company in the Northwest was formed Wednesday with the completion of the merger between U.S. Bancorp and Idaho-based West One Bancorp.

U.S. Bancorp will operate West One state banks as separate subsidiaries until they are converted to U.S. Bank operations by the third quarter of 1996.

About 1,100 jobs are expected to be eliminated by midyear, including 500 in Boise.

The merger raises to 567 the number of branches operated by U.S. Bancorp in Idaho, Oregon, Washington, northern California, Nevada and Utah.

U.S. Bancorp will be the 25th-largest bank in the United States, with about $30 billion in assets.