Strategic Insights into Banking & Fintech

First Gothenburg to buy Foundation First in Nebraska bank merger

First Gothenburg to buy Foundation First in Nebraska bank merger

First Gothenburg Bancshares in Gothenburg, Neb., has agreed to buy Foundation First in Waterloo, Neb. The $1.2 billion-asset parent of Dayspring Bank expects to buy the holding company for the $200.9 million-asset Foundation First Bank in the second half of this year. The price was not disclosed. Olsen Palmer advised Foundation First.

July 13, 2026
First Hawaiian to make big mainland push with TriCo acquisition

First Hawaiian to make big mainland push with TriCo acquisition

First Hawaiian in Honolulu has agreed to buy TriCo Bancshares in Chico, Calif. The $24 billion-asset First Hawaiian said in a press release that it will pay $2 billion in stock for the $9.9 billion-asset TriCo. The deal, which is expected to close by the end of this year, priced TriCo at 198% of its tangible book value. The acquisition "creates a broader platform for long-term growth,” Bob Harrison, First

July 13, 2026
Bank of Washington in Missouri announces CEO’s death

Bank of Washington in Missouri announces CEO’s death

The leader of the Bank of Washington in Missouri has died. The bank disclosed on LinkedIn that L.B. Eckelkamp Jr., its chairman and CEO, had passed away. "L.B. had a deep love for his hometown and demonstrated every day the values of hard work, honesty, humility, and selfless leadership," the post said. "His vision, leadership, and unwavering commitment helped shape our company and positively impacted countless employees, customers, and members

July 13, 2026
Real estate firm MountainSeed raises $38M to build AI appraisal platform

Real estate firm MountainSeed raises $38M to build AI appraisal platform

MountainSeed, an Atlanta company that buys bank and credit union properties, raised $38 million in capital. The company said in a press release said that equity firm Long Ridge Equity Partners made a minority investment that will be used for an AI-focused valuation and appraisal review platform, among other things. “Banks and credit unions ... are the backbone of local economies across this country, and we are excited to serve

July 12, 2026
Gaming giant Sony gets conditional approval for stablecoin-focused trust bank

Gaming giant Sony gets conditional approval for stablecoin-focused trust bank

Sony Bank has received conditional OCC approval to open a national trust bank. Sony saidit plans to create Connectia Trust with $40 million in capital. The trust bank, which should open next year, would issue and manage a dollar-denominated stablecoin. The bank said late last year that it was planning to issue a dollar-pegged stablecoin that can be used to pay for Sony games and movies. "The establishment of this trust

July 11, 2026
FirstSun in Colo. to bump up provision due to pair of troubled loans

FirstSun in Colo. to bump up provision due to pair of troubled loans

FirstSun Capital Bancorp in Denver warned that two commercial credits will ding its quarterly results. The company disclosed in a regulatory filing that its plans to record a loan-loss provision of $40 million to $41 million during the second quarter. Chargeoffs will range from $42 million to $43 million. The first lending relationship is an asset-based loan to a materials distributor with an outstanding principal balance of about $23.6 million

July 11, 2026
Stilwell Group to launch proxy challenge at Central Plains in Nebraska

Stilwell Group to launch proxy challenge at Central Plains in Nebraska

Stilwell Group plans to vie for two board seats at Central Plains Bancshares in Grand Island, Neb. Central Plains disclosed in a regulatory filing that the activist investor also plans to present a proposal at the next annual meeting that would require the company to buy back at least 10% of its outstanding common stock every year in which the stock trades below book value per share. Subsequently, the company

July 11, 2026
Nation’s smallest standalone bank fails in Indiana

Nation’s smallest standalone bank fails in Indiana

Kentland Federal Savings and Loan Association of Kentland, Ind., has failed. The nation's smallest standalone bank, with $3.7 million of assets, was closed today by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. as receiver. The FDIC sold substantially all of the bank's assets and its deposits to Kentland Bank. Kentland Federal had $3.7 million of deposits. Its only branch will permanently close.

July 10, 2026