Strategic Insights into Banking & Fintech

First National in Virginia agrees to buy Touchstone Bankshares

First National in Virginia agrees to buy Touchstone Bankshares

First National in Strasburg, Va., has agreed to buy Touchstone Bankshares in Prince George, Va. The $1.4 billion-asset First National said in a press release that it will pay $47 million in stock for the $658.7 million-asset Touchstone. The deal, which is expected to close in the fourth quarter, priced Touchstone at 106% of its tangible book value. Touchstone has 12 branches, $508.8 million of loans and $542.2 million of

March 26, 2024
BOK Financial to offset securities loss with Visa stock sales

BOK Financial to offset securities loss with Visa stock sales

BOK Financial in Tulsa, Okla., plans to offset losses tied to a recent securities sale with proceeds from converting its Visa shares. The $48.2 billion-asset company disclosed in a regulatory filing that it sold about $783 million of debt securities at a $45 million pretax loss. It reinvested the proceeds into higher-yielding securities. The company said that, as a result, it will recognize a $34 million net charge to first-quarter

March 26, 2024
Group applies to open new commercial bank in SoCal

Group applies to open new commercial bank in SoCal

Organizers are planning a de novo bank in Culver City, Calif. A group filed an application earlier this year with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. for Culver Community Bank. The Bank Slate recently obtained the redacted version of the application. Benjamin Donel is listed as the proposed bank’s chairman. He is the managing member of Sunset Equity Funding, a private asset firm that buys loans that are in default and

March 23, 2024
Organizers propose Korean-American bank in Los Angeles

Organizers propose Korean-American bank in Los Angeles

A group of Korean-Americans is looking to form a new bank in Los Angeles. Organizers of QIB Bank applied on March 8 with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. The group is looking to raise $35 million to form a minority-depository institution. “The bank intends to operate as a full-service commercial bank providing a wide range of traditional banking products and services to businesses and individuals in its market area, with

March 23, 2024
SaviBank in Washington to sell to Harborstone Credit Union

SaviBank in Washington to sell to Harborstone Credit Union

Savi Financial in Mount Vernon, Wash., which once explored forming a second bank, will instead sell its bank to Harborstone Credit Union in Lakewood, Wash. The $1.9 billion-asset Harborstone will pay an $16 to $17 a share in cash for the $593 million-asset SaviBank. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter. Savi Financial will liquidate and dissolve and distribute its remaining assets to its investors after the

March 23, 2024
Proposed Houston de novo secures conditional FDIC approval

Proposed Houston de novo secures conditional FDIC approval

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has given conditional approval for a new bank in Houston. Organizers of the proposed Integrity Bank must raise $37 million prior to opening, according to the FDIC’s order. Integrity plans to operate as a state-chartered savings bank. The group of 19 organizers originally applied with the FDIC in June 2023. Charles Neff Jr. would serve as chairman and CEO; Hazem Ahmed would be the proposed

March 21, 2024
Former OneWest director joins New York Community board

Former OneWest director joins New York Community board

New York Community in Hicksville has appointed a director with experience serving on a bank board. The $114.1 billion-asset company disclosed in a regulatory filing that Alan Frank will also stand for election at this year’s annual meeting. He will serve as chairman of the audit committee. Frank, who spent 40 years at Deloitte & Touche, was a director of OneWest Bank when it was sold to CIT Group. He

March 20, 2024
Crypto custody firm Bakkt taps director as next CEO

Crypto custody firm Bakkt taps director as next CEO

Bakkt Holdings in Alpharetta, Ga., selected one of its directors to become its next CEO. The crypto custody firm said in a press release that Andy Main will also become president on March 26. He will succeed Gavin Michael, who will step down to pursue other opportunities. Michael will serve in an advisory role through March 2025 to assist with leadership transition and advise the board and executive team on

March 20, 2024