Hopper

[naviga:h3]Mars bank adds VP for mortgages[/naviga:h3]

MARS — Deborah Hopper has joined Mars National Bank as assistant vice president, mortgage lending.

Hopper, who has more than 13 years of banking experience, will be responsible for developing and managing client relationships, particularly in Butler and Mercer counties. She will be in the bank’s Penn and Richland office locations.

She is involved with several community chambers of commerce, Women’s Business Network and Women United of Butler County, where she served on the executive committee.

Hopper of Butler attended Indiana (Pa.) University.

[naviga:h3]Construction spending falls[/naviga:h3]

WASHINGTON — U.S. construction spending fell for a second month in May, with weakness in all areas of building.

The Commerce Department says construction spending declined 0.8 percent in May following a 2 percent plunge in April, which had been the biggest monthly setback in five years.

Spending on housing was flat as a 1.8 percent advance in apartment construction was offset by a 1.3 percent fall in single-family activity. Nonresidential construction was down 0.7 percent, with a contraction in the category that includes shopping centers.

Government activity dropped 2.3 percent to mark the third straight decline.

[naviga:h3]Personnel file[/naviga:h3]

Mark Drenchko, senior VP, commercial and retail banking for Mars National Bank, has been appointed to the Pennsylvania Bankers Association’s Advisory Committee for the PA Bankers School of Commercial Banking. The committee reviews the schools and evaluates curriculum to ensure they meet PA Bankers member banks’ educational needs.