Southern Missouri Bancorp in Poplar Bluff has agreed to buy Citizens Bancshares in Kansas City, Mo. The $3.2 billion-asset Southern Missouri said in a press release Wednesday that it will pay $140 million in cash and stock for the $1 billion-asset parent of Citizens Bank and Trust Co. The deal, which is expected to close in the first quarter, priced Citizens at 150% of its tangible book value. Citizens has

Columbia Banking System in Tacoma, Wash., and Umpqua Holdings in Portland, Ore., will sell 10 branches under an agreement with the Department of Justice. The $20.6 billion-asset Columbia and the $30.1 billion-asset Umpqua agreed to merge in October 2021 in a deal valued at $5.2 billion. The companies will sell fives branches in Oregon, three in California and two in Washington. Columbia said it does not yet have any agreements to sell the branches.

Citizens Bank of Edmond in Oklahoma is planning to create a bank specifically designed for newly enlisted members of the military and their families. The $350 million-asset bank is working with Nymbus on the digital bank, which is expected to launch next year. “Collaborating with a partner just as passionate about this mission as myself and the entire Citizens Bank of Edmond team was top of mind,” Jill Castilla, Citizens’

Fifth Third Bancorp in Cincinnati has formed a mortgage warehouse finance business. The $207 billion-asset Fifth Third said in a press release that the business is being run by Donnie Martin, who was named group head of mortgage warehouse finance, and team of Dallas-based lenders. Martin previously served as director of warehouse lending at Texas Capital Bank, according to his LinkedIn profile. Warehouse lending is a financing arrangement between banks and

Live Oak Bancshares in Wilmington, N.C., has added a banking veteran to its board. The $9.1 billion-asset company said in a press release Monday that Yousef Valine became a director on Sept. 15. Valine recently served as chief operating officer, chief risk officer and merger executive at First Horizon in Memphis, Tenn. First Horizon is in the process of selling itself to TD Bank. Valine has also held leadership posts at

A large investor in Republic First Bancorp wants the Philadelphia company to avoid selling right now. A group including George Norcross and Gregory Braca wrote in a Sept. 16 letter to the $5.7 billion-asset Republic First’s board that it believes “a financially attractive proposal … is unlikely” due to the company’s financial position. The group in the past has proposed appointing Braca as CEO and focusing more on lending in urban markets.

Peapack-Gladstone Financial in Bedminster, N.J., has a new president for its equipment finance unit. The $6.2 billion-asset company said in a press release Monday that Dennis Smith had accepted the post. He previously served as the unit’s chief operating officer. Peapack-Gladstone also said that Richard Johnston had been named national director of sales. Johnston previously served as the unit’s senior vice president of capital markets. Smith and Johnston, who joined

First National Bank of Syracuse in Kansas has rebranded as Dream First Bank. The $444 million-asset bank said in a press release Monday that the family ownership, management and values remain unchanged. “We remain the same people our customers have come to depend on with a smile, a handshake and a way to help people reach their next goal,” Chris Floyd, Dream First’s president and CEO, said in the release.