Strategic Insights into Banking & Fintech

Midwest Heritage to buy Iowa Savings Bank

Midwest Heritage to buy Iowa Savings Bank

Midwest Heritage in West Des Moines, Iowa, has agreed to buy Iowa Savings Bank in Carroll. Jeremy Gosch, chairman and CEO of Hy-Vee Company, disclosed the acquisition of the $290.4 million-asset Iowa Savings in a LinkedIn post. The acquisition would be the first for the $491.6 million-asset Midwest, which is a part of Hy-Vee. The price wasn't disclosed. "Iowa Savings Bank's relationship-focused approach to banking is a great match for

March 19, 2026
Landmark Credit Union to buy Illinois branch from North Shore Bank

Landmark Credit Union to buy Illinois branch from North Shore Bank

Landmark Credit Union in Milwaukee has agreed to buy a branch in McHenry, Ill., from North Shore Bank. The $7 billion-asset credit union said in a press release that it will also buy the deposits. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter. The price wasn't disclosed. The branch had $28.5 million in deposits in mid-2025, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. "This acquisition allows us to

March 19, 2026
Carver in N.Y. swapping common stock for trust preferred securities

Carver in N.Y. swapping common stock for trust preferred securities

Carver Bancorp in New York has agreed to exchange common stock so it can cancel trust preferred securities. The company said in a press release that it will issue 524,826 shares of common stock to institutional holders in exchange for trust preferred securities with more than $1 million in interest obligations. The move is designed to strengthen the bank's capital position and remove legacy debt. "This exchange is a key

March 19, 2026
Lake Shore in N.Y. strikes truce with activist investor Stilwell Group

Lake Shore in N.Y. strikes truce with activist investor Stilwell Group

Stilwell Group will appoint a director to join the board of Lake Shore Bancorp after the activist investor and Dunkirk, N.Y., company reached a truce. Lake Shore disclosed in a regulatory filing that Dennis Pollack will become a director as part of a standstill agreement between the parties. The agreement will remain in effect until the end of Lake Shore’s 2029 annual meeting. In return, Stilwell agreed to refrain from

March 19, 2026
Independent Bank to buy HCB in Michigan bank merger

Independent Bank to buy HCB in Michigan bank merger

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.

March 19, 2026
Community Bankers Association of Kansas looking for next CEO

Community Bankers Association of Kansas looking for next CEO

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.

March 18, 2026
B2 Bank in Minn. hires three Climate First execs in C-Suite overhaul

B2 Bank in Minn. hires three Climate First execs in C-Suite overhaul

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

March 18, 2026
Proposed N.H. bank to operate ‘digital-first’ engagement model

Proposed N.H. bank to operate ‘digital-first’ engagement model

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

March 17, 2026