Strategic Insights into Banking & Fintech

Proposed Atlanta-area de novo gets conditional FDIC approval

Proposed Atlanta-area de novo gets conditional FDIC approval

Organizers of the proposed First City Bank in Georgia have received conditional approval from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. David Shafer, the proposed bank's chairman, also said in a LinkedIn post that his group has received approval from the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. The post did not disclose how much capital must be raised for the proposed Atlanta-area bank can open.  

March 17, 2026
Peoples Bank in Kansas sells farm management business

Peoples Bank in Kansas sells farm management business

Farmers National in Omaha, Neb., bought the farm management business of Peoples Bank and Trust in McPherson, Kan. The acquisition includes more than 20,000 acres and brings Farmers National's total in Kansas to over 400,000 managed acres. The price wasn't disclosed "This acquisition aligns with our mission to provide solutions that improve profitability and long‑term value for landowners," Grant Fitzgerald, senior vice president of farm and ranch management at Farmers

March 17, 2026
Itaú Bank seeks national bank charter

Itaú Bank seeks national bank charter

Itaú Bank has applied for a national bank charter. The application, filed with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. on March 16, said the bank would be based in Miami. It would be regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The application, which wasn't immediately available, comes on the heels of Brazil's Nu Holdings receiving conditional approval for a national bank charter.

March 17, 2026
Group planning Strategist Bank in New Hampshire

Group planning Strategist Bank in New Hampshire

A group is planning a bank in Bedford, N.H. Organizers submitted an application to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. on March 13 to form Strategist Bank. The application wasn't immediately available. A public notice tied to the application lists four organizers: Michael Simchik, Robert Pace, Dylan Cruess and James Pietro.

March 16, 2026
CSB Financial in Ohio to raise capital from mutual-to-stock conversion

CSB Financial in Ohio to raise capital from mutual-to-stock conversion

CSB Financial in Bethel, Ohio, plans to raise up to $14.6 million as part of a plan to convert from a mutual to a stock-owned company. CSB, which would become the holding company for the $110.2 million-asset Community Savings Bank, plans to sell 935,000 to 1.3 million shares of common stock at $10 each. If there is enough demand, the company could sell 1.5 million shares. Community Savings will receive

March 16, 2026
ABNB Federal Credit Union to buy two N.C. branches for Virginia bank

ABNB Federal Credit Union to buy two N.C. branches for Virginia bank

ABNB Federal Credit Union in Chesapeake, Va., has agreed to buy two North Carolina branches from First Bank of Virginia in Strasburg. The branches, located in Roanoke Rapids and Louisburg, had $52.9 million in deposits in mid-2025, according to data from the Federal Insurance Deposit Corp. The price wasn't disclosed. The deal is expected to close later this year. “We are pleased to welcome the communities of Roanoke Rapids and

March 13, 2026
Billy Beale retires after leading turnaround at Blue Ridge Bank in Va.

Billy Beale retires after leading turnaround at Blue Ridge Bank in Va.

Billy Beale, who helped Blue Ridge Bancshares in Richmond, Va., get out from under an enforcement action and return to profitability, has retired. The company said in a press release that Beale retired on March 6 and stepped down from its board. Harry Golliday, the company's chief credit officer, will serve as interim CEO. Beale, who became president and CEO in July 2023, led efforts to exit a consent order

March 12, 2026
Proposed United Development Bank in Washington gets FDIC approval

Proposed United Development Bank in Washington gets FDIC approval

A proposed bank in Bellevue, Wash., has received conditional approval from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Organizers of the proposed United Development Bank must raise $15 million before opening. The group, which aims to operate as a minority depository institution (MDI), applied to regulators in August. Charlie Guildner, a former president and CEO of North Cascades Bank, would serve as president and CEO.

March 12, 2026