Equity Bancshares in Wichita, Kan., is bolstering operations in its home state with an agreement to buy American State Bancshares in Wichita. The $4.2 billion-asset Equity said in a press release Monday that it will pay $73.6 million in stock for the parent of the $779 million-asset American State Bank. About $6.6 million of American State preferred stock will be redeemed when the deal closes. The deal, which is expected to close