Strategic Insights into Banking & Fintech

BancFirst strikes deal to buy American Bank of Oklahoma

BancFirst strikes deal to buy American Bank of Oklahoma

BancFirst in Oklahoma City has agreed to buy American Bank of Oklahoma in Collinsville. The $14 billion-asset BancFirst said in a press release that it expects to buy the $385 million-asset American Bank in the third quarter. The price wasn't disclosed. "Collinsville and Skiatook are thriving communities that continue to experience dynamic growth in northeastern Oklahoma," David Harlow, BancFirst's CEO, said in the release. "This acquisition aligns with our continued commitment to serving communities here in

November 18, 2025
Fintech Ramp raises $300 million in latest funding round

Fintech Ramp raises $300 million in latest funding round

Fintech Ramp raised $300 million in the latest funding round. Eric Glyman, the SaaS company's co-founder and CEO, disclosed the effort in a LinkedIn post. Bloomberg reported that the round was led by Lightspeed. "We're growing 10x faster than the median publicly traded SaaS company," Glyman said in his post. "Revenue, customers, and feature velocity doubling in the past year."

November 17, 2025
GECU in Texas to buy Bank of the Southwest in New Mexico

GECU in Texas to buy Bank of the Southwest in New Mexico

GECU in El Paso, Texas, has agreed to buy Bank of the Southwest in Roswell, N.M. New Mexico National Financial plans to sell the $187 million-asset bank, including 12 branches and "substantially" all of its liabilities, to the $4.4 billion-asset credit union, according to an announcement by Olsen Palmer, which advised the bank. The price wasn't disclosed. The National Credit Union Administration must approve the deal, along with the Federal

November 17, 2025
Blue Ridge in Virginia freed from OCC consent order

Blue Ridge in Virginia freed from OCC consent order

Blue Ridge Bankshares in Charlottesville, Va., has been freed from a January 2024 consent order with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The company made several big decisions since it was hit with the order, making Billy Beale as its CEO, raising capital, and exiting its Banking-as-a-Service vertical. "Months ago, we turned our attention to community banking with a focus on improving our customer experience while attracting new

November 15, 2025
Olympic revisited Heritage offer after unnamed bank sought price cut

Olympic revisited Heritage offer after unnamed bank sought price cut

Olympic Bancorp in Port Orchard, Wash., returned to the negotiating table with Heritage Financial in Olympia, Wash., after a rival bidder moved to cut its offer, giving new life to a deal that was ultimately priced at $176.6 million. The $7.1 billion-asset Heritage agreed in September to buy the $1.7 billion-asset parent of Kitsap Bank for $176.6 million in a deal expected to close in the first quarter. A Nov.

November 15, 2025
First United in Md. to promote COO as its next CEO

First United in Md. to promote COO as its next CEO

First United in Oakland, Md., will begin 2026 with a new CEO. The $2 billion-asset company said in a press release that Jason Rush will also become president on Jan. 1. Rush, the company's chief operating officer, will succeed Carissa Rodeheaver, who is retiring Rodeheaver will remain executive chairman until the company's May 7 annual meeting. Rush is expected to join the board.

November 15, 2025
Jewel Box Financial to buy American Bank of Beaver Dam in Wisconsin

Jewel Box Financial to buy American Bank of Beaver Dam in Wisconsin

Jewel Box Financial Services in Columbus, Wis., has agreed to buy Ambanc Financial Services in Beaver Dam, Wis. Jewel Box, the parent of the $661 million-asset Farmers & Merchants Union Bank, expects to buy the holding company for the $202 million-asset American Bank of Beaver Dam in the first quarter, according to an announcement by Olsen Palmer. Olsen Palmer advised Jewel Box. The price wasn't disclosed,

November 14, 2025
Activist investor launches new effort to push Blue Foundry’s sale

Activist investor launches new effort to push Blue Foundry’s sale

Activist investor Lawrence Seidman continues to pressure Blue Foundry Bancorp, this time pressing the Rutherford, N.J., company to replace its management team or find a buyer. Seidman, who says he owns about 0.8% of the $2.1 billion-asset company's stock, sent a letter to the board making his demands. Blue Foundry has lost money in each of the past 11 quarters. It had a 110.15% efficiency ratio in the third quarter.

November 13, 2025