Irving Bank Corp., which has resisted an...

Irving Bank Corp., which has resisted an unwanted takeover bid from Bank of New York Co., has agreed to discuss the possibility of a friendly merger with its rival on Wednesday. “Our board of directors is ready to receive and consider any proposal the Bank of New York wishes to make,” Irving Chairman Joseph Rice wrote to Bank of New York Chairman Carter Bacot. The letter, which also disclosed the date of the meeting, was contained in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Bank of New York initiated the meeting at the suggestion of New York State Supreme Court Judge Herman Cahn, who is presiding over three lawsuits between the banks.