Irving Bank Corp. said it had provided...

Irving Bank Corp. said it had provided company information to potential suitors, underscoring the bank’s determination to strike a merger deal with anyone but Bank of New York Co. Irving did not name the parties. The bank, which has been pursued by Bank of New York for nearly a year, said its board voted unanimously to support Chairman Joseph Rice’s recommendation to continue the search for a higher bid. Bank of New York’s best offer, contingent on approval by Irving’s board, is valued at around $73 a share, or more than $1 billion. The bank also has a hostile tender offer valued at around $70 a share in cash and securities.