First Carolina Financial Services in Rocky Mount, N.C., has raised $115 million through a private placement of common stock. The $1.5 billion-asset company said in a press release Monday that it sold 4.6 million shares at $25 each to accredited individual and institutional investors. It is the company’s largest private placement – about $90 million came from local investors. First Carolina said it plans to use the proceeds to enhance capital ratios

MNB Financial Services in McCook, Neb., has agreed to buy Doniphan Bancshares in Doniphan, Neb.The $418 million-asset MNB said in a press release that it expects to complete the purchase of the $149 million-asset Doniphan on June 1. The company did not disclose the price it will pay. "This is a historic day for our organization," Brian Esch, MNB’s president and CEO, said in the release. "I am confident that our

Norwood Financial in Honesdale, Pa., will soon have a new CEO. The $2.1 billion-asset company said in a press release Monday that James Donnelly will also become its president in early May. He will also join the company’s board. Donnelly will succeed Lewis Critelli, who plans to retire but will remain a director. Donnelly previously served as chief commercial officer at Bangor Savings Bank. Donnelly “is an experienced, dedicated and successful community banker,” Critelli said in

Hometown Financial Group in Easthampton, Mass., has agreed to buy Randolph Bancorp in Quincy, Mass. The $3.6 billion-asset Hometown said in a press release Monday that it will pay $146.5 million for the $803 million-asset parent of Envision Bank. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter. Randolph’s directors and executive officers, who own about 7.7% of the company’s stock, pledged to support the sale. At least one Randolph

Berkshire Hills Bancorp in Boston is building a new consumer and small business mobile app and an online banking site through an expanded partnership with fintech Narmi. The $11.6 billion-asset company said in a press release Monday that the app will have upgrades that include personalization, savings tools, self-service capabilities and apps to support seamless money transfers and financial planning.  Berkshire previously worked with the New York-based fintech to upgrade its consumer online account

Bison State Bank in Bison, Kan., has a new CEO. Mark Emley also agreed to become the $18.6 million-asset bank’s CEO. Emley (pictured) previously served as CEO of Kendall Bank in Overland Park, Kan.Bison State named Curt Scoville, a banker who joined earlier this year, as its chief lending officer. The bank said Joylynn Gutierrez had become an executive vice president in charge of a new branch in Kansas City, Mo. She

Patience paid off for Bank First in Manitowoc, Wis. The $2.9 billion-asset company made an initial overture to buy Denmark Bancshares in February 2020, roughly two years before it reached an agreement to buy the Denmark, Wis., company for $119.5 million. The initial effort was detailed in a regulatory filing associated with the pending acquisition, which was announced in January and is expected to close in the third quarter. Bank First’s first proposal

Citizens Financial Group in Providence, R.I., has created an overdraft-free checking account designed to help underbanked and underserved communities. The $188 billion-asset company said in a press release Monday that Citizens EverValue Checking accounts will have a $5 monthly fee.  Citizens said the account was certified by the CFE Fund for meeting Bank On National Account Standards. The account is “the latest in a series of changes to our product suite to