Strategic Insights into Banking & Fintech

Plaid raises $575M, takes valuation cut compared to 2021 raise

Plaid raises $575M, takes valuation cut compared to 2021 raise

Plaid raised $575 million in a funding round. The round, which included Franklin Templeton, BlackRock, NEA and Ribbit Capital, valued the fintech at $6 billion, off more than half from its $13.4 billion valuation in 2021. Plaid said this round would be its lase private fundraiser, indicating that the company is getting closer to filing for an initial public offering. The new funding round lets employees cash out of restricted

April 3, 2025
Equity Bancshares in Kansas to buy NBC Oklahoma

Equity Bancshares in Kansas to buy NBC Oklahoma

Equity Bancshares in Wichita, Kan., has agreed to buy NBC Corp. of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City. The $5.3 billion-asset Equity said in a press release that it will pay $86.9 million in cash and stock for the parent of the $909 million-asset NBC Oklahoma. The deal is expected to close in the third quarter. “This partnership builds on our shared commitment to the communities we serve and enhances our ability

April 3, 2025
TowneBank to buy Old Point Financial in Virginia

TowneBank to buy Old Point Financial in Virginia

TowneBank in Suffolk, Va., has agreed to buy Old Point Financial in Hampton, Va. The $18 billion-asset TowneBank said in a press release that it will pay $203 million in cash and stock for the $1.5 billion-asset Old Point. The deal, which is expected to close in the second half of this year, priced Old Point at 180% of its tangible book value. “Old Point has legendary status here in

April 3, 2025
Mutual Federal in Ohio hires outsider as its president

Mutual Federal in Ohio hires outsider as its president

Mutual Federal in Sidney, Ohio, has a new president. Bill Daily announced on LinkedIn that he had taken on the new role. Daily was the founder and CEO of Riverside Bank of Dublin, which opened in 2019. He will succeed Dean Weinert, who is retiring as market president of Mutual Federal on April 11. Mutual Federal is a division of First Bank Richmond, a unit of Richmond Mutual Bancorp.

April 2, 2025
Union County Savings in N.J. promotes insider as next CEO

Union County Savings in N.J. promotes insider as next CEO

Union County Savings Bank in Elizabeth, N.J., has a new leader. The $1.6 billion-asset bank also said that Chris McFadden had become its president. McFaddon had been chief financial officer. Erik Terpstra was named to succeed McFaddon as CFO. “We are thrilled to have Chris take on the role of president and CEO,” Colin Neill, the bank's chairman, said in a statement. “Her deep expertise and leadership in the banking

April 2, 2025
1st National Bank of Scotia in NY splits president, CEO roles

1st National Bank of Scotia in NY splits president, CEO roles

There's a new president at 1st National Bank of Scotia in New York. The $676 million-asset bank said in a press release that Robert Dieterich had taken on the expanded role. Dieterich, who will remain chief operating officer, succeeded John Buhrmaster, who is still CEO. Buhrmaster will now focus on strategic direction and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders. Dieterich will oversee the bank’s employees, customer relationships, strategy execution, and operational efficiency.

April 2, 2025
Santa Cruz County Bank in Calif. rebrands after market expansion

Santa Cruz County Bank in Calif. rebrands after market expansion

Santa Cruz County Bank in Santa Cruz, Calif., has rebranded. The $2.7 billion-asset unit of West Coast Community Bancorp announced that it was renamed West Coast Community Bank. The change follows the company's purchase of 1st Capital Bancorp in Salinas, Calif., which introduced it to new markets. "Our new name reflects the vibrant and diverse West Coast communities we serve in Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz

April 2, 2025
Colony Bankcorp in Georgia buys insurance agency

Colony Bankcorp in Georgia buys insurance agency

Colony Bankcorp in Fitzgerald, Ga., is bucking a trend in banking by acquiring an insurance agency. The company said in a press release that it bought The Ellerbee Agency, an Allstate-appointed consumer property and casualty insurance agency. The price wasn't disclosed. The agency will become part of Colony Insurance. Sean Ellerbee, who led the agency, will join Colony Insurance's leadership team. "This acquisition supports our strategy of efficient growth and scalable

April 1, 2025