The First agrees to purchase Camden National properties

The First, N.A., a subsidiary of The First Bancorp Inc., has agreed to buy two properties from Camden National Corp. for $7.7 million.

The First will purchase the branch at 63 Union St., Rockland, and the 145 Exchange St. building in Bangor.

The Rockland branch is one of 15 Maine branches that Camden National is acquiring from Bank of America. Camden National will divest the branch to resolve competitive concerns in that market raised by the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division.

Customers who bank at the existing Rockland branches of The First and Camden National will not be affected.

The First said it will retain the employees of the 63 Union St. branch.

In Bangor, The First intends to open a full-service banking center at 145 Exchange St. in the first quarter of 2013. The Camden National branch in Bangor will move to 80 Exchange St., the local of a Bank of America it is buying.

Gasoline prices in Maine drop nearly 4 cents in week

Gas prices in Maine have dropped nearly 4 cents in the past week and are now averaging $3.39 per gallon.

Price-monitoring website MaineGasPrices.com reported Monday that average retail gasoline prices in Maine are now just 2 cents above the national average.

Including the latest changes, gas prices in Maine were more than 23 cents per gallon lower than the same day a year ago and are about 24 cents per gallon lower than a month ago.