Strategic Insights into Banking & Fintech

Proposed Ala. bank surpasses initial capital goal

Proposed Ala. bank surpasses initial capital goal

The organizers of the proposed Nova Bank in Huntsville, Ala., have surpassed their capital-raising goal. The proposed de novo made the announcement on its LinkedIn page. “To all our investors, we can’t thank you enough for your support and confidence in us!” the group said. The group originally applied with regulators in August 2021 but withdrew the application last spring. A new application was submitted in September 2022, with a

September 3, 2023
Wisconsin bank is latest to shed securities at a loss

Wisconsin bank is latest to shed securities at a loss

Add 1895 Bancorp of Wisconsin in Greenfield to the list of banks repositioning their balance sheets. The $553 million-asset company said in a press release that it sold $21.4 million of securities for an after-tax loss of $1.4 million. Proceeds contributed to the purchase of about $21.4 million of government-sponsored mortgage-backed securities. The transactions should increase earnings by about $700,000 annually, meaning the loss should be recouped in about two

September 1, 2023
Trustmark taking $6.5M charge in 3Q to resolve litigation

Trustmark taking $6.5M charge in 3Q to resolve litigation

Trustmark in Jackson, Miss., will set aside $6.5 million in the third quarter to cover the potential resolution of a nearly four-year-old legal matter.   The $18.4 billion-asset company disclosed in a regulatory filing that it has reached a settlement with the court-appointed receiver for Madison Timber Properties and Arthur Lamar Adams.   The receiver filed a lawsuit in December 2019 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of

September 1, 2023
BM Technologies co-CEO resigns five months after taking job

BM Technologies co-CEO resigns five months after taking job

BM Technologies in Wayne, Pa., said its co-CEO resigned after just five months on the job.   The fintech disclosed in a regulatory filing that Rajinder Singh stepped down on Aug. 29 “for personal reasons.” The company said his departure was not due to any disputes or disagreements/   BM Technologies said it had initiated a search to fill the vacancy created, though Luvleen Sidhu will serve as its sole

September 1, 2023
Five Star CU announces another bank purchase

Five Star CU announces another bank purchase

Five Star Credit Union in Dothan, Ala., has agreed to buy Wilcox County State Bank in Abbeville, Ga. – the fifth credit union-bank merger announced this week. The $773 million-asset Five Star did not disclose the price it will pay for the $178 million-asset bank. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter. The credit union announced earlier this week that it would buy the $215 million-asset OneSouth

September 1, 2023
Michigan State University FCU lines up second bank purchase

Michigan State University FCU lines up second bank purchase

Michigan State University Federal Credit Union in Lansing has announced its second bank acquisition in the past week. The $7.6 billion-asset credit union plans to buy the $146 million-asset Algonquin State Bank in Algonquin, Ill., from First Algonquin, the bank’s parent company. The price wasn’t disclosed. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter. The announcement comes two days after the credit union said it plans to buy

August 31, 2023
NexTier to buy Mars Bancorp in Pennsylvania

NexTier to buy Mars Bancorp in Pennsylvania

NexTier in Butler, Pa., has agreed to buy Mars Bancorp in Mars, Pa. The $2.1 billion-asset NexTier said in a press release that it expects to complete its purchase of the $521 million-asset Mars in the first quarter. NexTier said it will pay $32 million in cash based on Mars’ shares outstanding. Jim Dionise, Mars' president and CEO, will join the board of NexTier Bank. "We believe the merger … provides

August 31, 2023
PB Financial to buy Coastal Bank in North Carolina

PB Financial to buy Coastal Bank in North Carolina

PB Financial in Rocky Mount, N.C., which recently raised capital, has agreed to buy Coastal Bank & Trust in Jacksonville, N.C. The $879 million-asset PB Financial said in a press release that it will pay $25.8 million in cash and stock for the $206 million-asset Coastal. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter. The acquisition “unites two community banks that have a shared vision for personal service,

August 31, 2023