Independent Bank in Grand Rapids, Mich., has agreed to buy HCB Financial in Hastings, Mich. The $5.5 billion-asset Independent said in a press release that it will pay $70.2 million in cash and stock for the $590 million-asset HCB. The deal, which is expected to close in the third quarter, priced HCB at 148% of its tangible book value. HCB has a 1.50% cost of funds and 67% loan-to-deposit ratio.

The Community Bankers Association of Kansas is looking for its next leader. The association said in a press release that Shawn Mitchell will retire as its president and CEO at the end of this year. The association said that it is searching for his replacement with the Independent Community Bankers of America. Mitchell joined the organization in 2009.

B2 Bank in Mountain Iron, Minn., has overhauled its management team after hiring three executives from Climate First Bank. The bank, which is owned by M1 Finance founder Brian Barnes, said in a press release that Ryan Jaskiewicz had become its CEO. Jaskiewicz was president of structured finance at Climate First Bank. Chris Cucci was named president, and Chris Van Buskirk is now chief credit and risk officer. Cucci was

A proposed bank in New Hampshire will have a digital-first engagement model. Organizers of the planned Strategist Bank in Bedford said in their application with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. that the model is designed "to enhance convenience and operational efficiency." They noted in the application that there are only three New Hampshire-chartered community banks in their primary market area. The initial board would consist of Michael Simchik, Robert Pace

Organizers of the proposed First City Bank in Georgia have received conditional approval from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. David Shafer, the proposed bank's chairman, also said in a LinkedIn post that his group has received approval from the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. The post did not disclose how much capital must be raised for the proposed Atlanta-area bank can open.  

Farmers National in Omaha, Neb., bought the farm management business of Peoples Bank and Trust in McPherson, Kan. The acquisition includes more than 20,000 acres and brings Farmers National's total in Kansas to over 400,000 managed acres. The price wasn't disclosed "This acquisition aligns with our mission to provide solutions that improve profitability and long‑term value for landowners," Grant Fitzgerald, senior vice president of farm and ranch management at Farmers

Itaú Bank has applied for a national bank charter. The application, filed with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. on March 16, said the bank would be based in Miami. It would be regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The application, which wasn't immediately available, comes on the heels of Brazil's Nu Holdings receiving conditional approval for a national bank charter.

A group is planning a bank in Bedford, N.H. Organizers submitted an application to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. on March 13 to form Strategist Bank. The application wasn't immediately available. A public notice tied to the application lists four organizers: Michael Simchik, Robert Pace, Dylan Cruess and James Pietro.