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

Mississippi just passed a law that should severely restrict credit unions' abilities to buy banks in the state.The state is the latest to intervene in an issue of great importance to bankers. In fact, the Independent Community Bankers of America has pushed Washington to step in, either by blocking such seals or imposing a tax on credit unions that do buy banks. For now, it looks like most roadblocks will come

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. is moving forward on a request for comments tied to laws and regulations for bank mergers. The FDIC said on Friday that it had sent its proposal to the Federal Register for publication, which would start a 60-day period for public comments. The process will also seek comments on mergers between insured depository institutions and noninsured ones. “The FDIC is interested in receiving comments regarding the effectiveness of

Northrim BanCorp in Anchorage, Alaska, has a new bank president. The $2.7 billion-asset company said in a press release Friday that Michael Huston will succeed Joe Schierhorn on Saturday. Schierhorn will remain president and chief operating officer of the company and chairman and CEO of the bank. Huston will remain the bank’s chief lending officer. Amber Zins was named the bank’s chief operating officer. She most recently served the bank’s chief

Thompson Kane & Co., a mortgage lender in Madison, Wis., has agreed to buy Benton State Bank in Wisconsin. The mortgage lender said on Wednesday that it expects to complete the purchase of the $77 million-asset bank in the fourth quarter. It did not disclose the price it will pay. Benton State’s management team is expected to stay after the deal closes. Benton State “is over 125 years old and we are thrilled

Hancock Whitney in Gulfport, Miss., will do away with consumer nonsufficient funds fees, along with certain overdraft, fees by the end of this year. The $36.5 billion-asset company said in a press release that it will also increase its existing overdraft balance threshold to provide clients a bigger cushion before fees are assessed.The moves are expected to reduce the company’s service charges on deposit accounts by about $10 million to $11