First Financial Bancorp. in Cincinnati has agreed to buy Finward Bancorp in Munster, Ind. The $22.4 billion-asset First Financial said in a press release that it will pay $208 million in stock for the $2 billion-asset Finward. The deal, which is expected to close in the fourth quarter, priced Finward at 140% of its tangible book value. The acquisition "is expected to strategically expand First Financial’s ability to serve the

FinWise Bancorp in Murray, Utah, has acquired the technology platform and related assets of Tallied Technologies. FinWise did not disclose how much it paid for the credit card issuance and processing platform behind its co-branded credit card programs. FinWise now owns its card technology stack from application through issuing, processing and servicing, retaining the fees, interchange and interest economics for programs running on the Tallied platform. Tallied's engineering and operations

Future Financial Bankshares has agreed to buy Palmer Bancshares in Palmer, Texas. Future Financial, an entity formed to buy a bank, did not disclose what it will pay for the parent of the $120.4 million-asset Commercial State Bank. "What began as conversations, relationships, and an unwavering belief that a community bank could be built around a shared vision is one step closer to becoming reality through this announcement," Jeff Kesler,

Lumin Digital in San Ramon, Calif., raised $70 million. The digital platform said in a press release that the new funding round will support advancements in AI, payments, CRM, and lending. The capital raise follows a recent $45 million growth equity financing led by Light Street Capital. “We’ve built Lumin around a simple idea: the financial institutions that depend on our platform should have a stake in it,” Jeff Chambers,

Down Range Capital Opportunity Fund is pushing the board of Cashmere Valley Bancorp in Cashmere, Wash., to sell the bank. Down Range's letter leans on four main points: No credible succession plan. CSHX has had only two CEOs since 1993 — Ken Martin and Greg Oakes — with a smooth internal handoff between them. Oakes's retirement breaks that pattern, and Down Range argues a national CEO search is historically tied

Tech money keeps finding its way into small banks — and the latest example closed this week in Irvine, Calif. Nir Zuk, co-founder of cybersecurity giant Palo Alto Networks, completed his purchase of DMG Bancshares, the holding company of the $442 million-asset Liberty Bank. He wasn't alone: Daniel and Betsy Cohen, co-founders of The Bancorp, joined the transaction alongside a group financial services and technology investors. As part of the

Flex has raised $70 million to expand its platform for high-net-worth business owners. The fintech also said in an announcement that it had launched Flex Global, a service that connects local currency accounts, cross-border payments, and stablecoins for around-the-clock funds transfers. The company will also use the funds to double in size to more than 200 employees by year-end. Halo Fund led the investment, which comes seven months after Flex

Houston Bank & Trust in Texas raised $43.5 million in a private placement. The bank sold common stock, with Commerce Street Capital serving as the placement agent. The bank opened in May 2025 after raising $35 million.