Organizers of the proposed Georgia Skyline Bank in Roswell have shifted gears and will instead buy and recapitalize Highlands Community Bank in Covington, Va. The group, which received conditional approval from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. in December, now plan to buy the $190 million-asset Highlands. The plan is to still use the charter to serve customers around northern Atlanta. “This is an extraordinary opportunity for our organizers, our subscribers

Cari, a bank-governed digital money network founded by Gene Ludwig, has raised $32.5 million in the first tranche of its initial external funding round. The investments came entirely from banks, including design partners First Horizon Bank, Huntington Bank, KeyBank, M&T Bank, Old National Bank, and SouthState Bank. Glacier Bank also participated. Cari began working with its design partner banks in September 2025. Cari launched a full platform in March that

STAR Financial Group in Fort Wayne, Ind., is planning to launch a digital banking unit to support small businesses and entrepreneurs. The parent of the $3 billion-asset STAR Bank said that the planned Denova would offer digital checking and savings accounts, bill pay, wire transfers, and concierge-style support through embedded chat and business specialists. The company has been innovative in the past, working with Alkami Technology and NYDIG to let

Parkside Financial in St. Louis, Mo., has agreed to buy First American Bancorp in Greenwood Village, Colo. The $1.1 billion-asset Parkside said in a press release that it expects to buy the $277 million-asset First American in a cash-and-stock transaction expected to close in the fourth quarter. The price wasn't disclosed. “First American has built a strong legacy of relationship-based banking in Colorado,” James Wagner, co-founder and CEO of Parkside

Equity Bancshares in Wichita, Kan., has agreed to buy Lincoln Bancorp in Reinbeck, Iowa. The $7.7 billion-asset Equity said in a press release that it will pay $123.8 million in cash and stock for the $1.7 billion-asset parent of Lincoln Savings Bank. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter. “This partnership marks an important step in our long-term strategy for Iowa,” Brad Elliott, Equity’s chairman and CEO,

First National of Nebraska in Omaha has agreed to buy InBankshares in Denver. First National, part of the $35 billion-asset First National of Nebraska, said in a press release that it will pay between $200 million and $204 million in cash for the parent of the $1.4 billion-asset InBank. InBankshares shareholders may receive a special dividend immediately before closing. “InBank is strategically and culturally aligned with FNBO and represents an

TabaPay in Palo Alto, Calif., raised $155 million and agreed to buy Transact Bank in Denver. The money movement platform said in a press release that the funding round was led by FTV Capital. The $6.5 million-asset bank would be rebranded as TabaBank if the acquisition closes; the price wasn't disclosed. TabaHoldings is the proposed bank holding company. The bank acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter. “For

Immediate, an earned wage access and financial wellness platform, closed a $13 million Series B led by BankTech Ventures. The Birmingham, Ala., fintech said in a press release that Castle Creek Launchpad and BankSouth also participated in the funding round. Immediate also expanded its existing working capital facility with Always.bank.‍ The capital will be used to accelerate product innovation, expand strategic distribution partnerships, support growth in the employer market, and