Fleet Financial's Pending Sale to Bank of America Ends Era of Big BostonBased Banks: Bentley College Bank Marketing Expert, Former Fleet Marketing Director Is Available to Discuss Reasons for Sale, Implications For New England.

(From AScribe)

WALTHAM, Mass. -- Fleet, the last of the big Boston-based banks, is expected today to announce it will be sold to Bank of America Corp., the third-largest bank in the country. The takeover comes as economic recovery begins to build and the sale marks the second such loss of local independence for a prominent Boston company known for its community partnerships and philanthropy. Just weeks ago, John Hancock Financial Services agreed to a sale to Toronto-based Manulife Financial Corp.

EXPERT AVAILABLE: Paul Diesel, lecturer in Marketing at Bentley College and a veteran of 25 years in commercial banking including 10 years at Fleet where he was …