Strategic Insights into Banking & Fintech

Patriot National in Conn. to raise $5.5 million by selling shares, warrants

Patriot National in Conn. to raise $5.5 million by selling shares, warrants

Patriot National Bancorp in Stamford, Conn., will raise nearly $5.5 million after agreeing to sell common stock and warrants in a direct offering to accredited investors. The company disclosed in a regulatory filing that it will sell about 4.8 million shares of stock and roughly 960,000 five-year warrants to purchase non-voting common stock to unnamed investors. The common stock was sold at $1.15 a share, and one warrant will be

September 25, 2026
Central Bank of Oklahoma taps insider as next CEO

Central Bank of Oklahoma taps insider as next CEO

Central Bank of Oklahoma has a new CEO. The bank said in a press release that Matt Adams had also become its president. Adams was president of Central Bank’s Edmond and Oklahoma City market. “Matt has spent nearly two decades building relationships with our customers and communities in Oklahoma, and he understands what makes Central Bank different,” John Ross, president and CEO of Central Bancompany in St. Louis, said in the

September 24, 2026
Sherburne State Bank in Minnesota to drop ‘State’ from its name

Sherburne State Bank in Minnesota to drop ‘State’ from its name

Sherburne State Bank in Becker, Min., will shorten its name. The $351 million-asset bank said it will rebrand as Sherburne Bank on Oct. 1. “Our renovation, our name rebranding, is all part of applying a new coat of paint to the bank, so to say,” President and CEO Allen Snegosky said in a statement. "We are sticking with what got us here but just refreshing things.”

September 24, 2026
Peoples Bancshares to buy First Peoples in Tennessee bank merger

Peoples Bancshares to buy First Peoples in Tennessee bank merger

Peoples Bancshares of TN in Madisonville, Tenn., has applied to buy First Peoples Bancorp in Jefferson City, Tenn. Peoples Bancshares, the holding company for the $456.1 million-asset Peoples Bank of East Tennessee, submitted its application on Sept. 18. It expects to buy the parent of the $219.5 million-asset First Peoples Bank of Tennessee by early next year. “We have long respected the relationships First Peoples Bank of Tennessee has built

September 24, 2026
Credit-focused fintech Avant files for national bank charter

Credit-focused fintech Avant files for national bank charter

Avant has applied for a national bank charter. The fintech applied to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to create Avant Bank. The bank would enable the fintech to expand access to affordable, transparent credit and offer banking products and financial health tools via a digital banking platform. “We’ve spent more than thirteen years developing a data-driven approach to credit that serves

September 24, 2026
WestStar in Texas to deepen N.M. presence with Southwest Capital deal

WestStar in Texas to deepen N.M. presence with Southwest Capital deal

WestStar Bank Holding Co. in El Paso, Texas, has agreed to buy Las Vegas Bancorp. in Albuquerque, N.M. The $3.3 billion-asset WestStar said in a press release that it expects to buy the $500 million-asset parent of Southwest Capital Bank in the first quarter. The price wasn't disclosed. The companies "share more than a commitment to community banking. We share remarkably similar values," Rick Francis, WestStar's executive chairman, said in

September 24, 2026
Crux Analytics raises $2.2M in bank-backed seed round

Crux Analytics raises $2.2M in bank-backed seed round

Crux Analytics has raised $2.2 million in seed funding to help institutions engage, acquire, and retain high-potential business relationships. The fintech said in a press release that Castle Creek Launchpad, a joint venture fund with 34 community banks as limited partners, led the raise, with participation from Chartway Ventures, One Washington Financial and Curql. The funding will enable Crux Analytics to expand its team and accelerate product development. Crux Analytics, founded in

September 24, 2026
Unity Bancorp in N.J. finalizes CEO succession

Unity Bancorp in N.J. finalizes CEO succession

Unity Bancorp in Clinton, N.J., will have a new CEO in 2027. The $3.2 billion-asset company said in a press release that George Boyan will succeed James Hughes on March 31. Hughes, who is retiring, will remain on the board.  Boyan has been Unity's president since Jan. 1.  "Jim Hughes has left an indelible mark on Unity." David Dallas, Unity's chairman, said in the release. "His vision, integrity, and commitment

September 23, 2026