Esquire Financial Holdings in Jericho, N.Y., has agreed to buy Signature Bancorp. in Rosemont, Ill. The $2.8 billion-asset Esquire said in a press release that it will pay $348.4 million in stock for the $2 billion-asset Signature. The deal, which is expected to close in the third quarter, priced Signature at 153% of its tangible book value. The exchange ratio is subject to an adjustment based on the disposition value

Armstrong Bank in Muskogee, Okla., has agreed to buy five branches from First Guaranty Bancshares in Hammond, La. The $4.1 billion-asset First Guaranty will exit Texas after selling the locations, along with $270 million in deposits and $110 million in loans, to the $2.7 million-asset Armstrong. The deal, which includes a 7.65% deposit premium, is expected to close in the third quarter. First Guaranty said the deal should boost its

Voyager AI, a startup focused on commercial lending software and founded by a former Associated Banc-Corp executive, raised $500,000 in a preseed round. The round was led by Mastercraft Ventures. Voyager AI's software automates the lending process, helping with regulatory reviews, feasibility analysis, and internal documentation. The company is led by Aaron Colcord, a former data and analytics executive at FIS, Northwestern Mutual, Thrivent, and Associated. “Financial institutions are the

Upstart Holdings in San Mateo, Calif., will apply to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. for a national bank charter. The fintech also plans to become a bank holding company and form Upstart Bank. The charter will let Upstart reduce operational, regulatory, and financial costs and complexity for itself and its third-party capital sources. Annie Delgado, Upstart’s chief risk officer, would serve as

Landmark Credit Union in Milwaukee has agreed to buy American National Bank-Fox Cities in Appleton, Wis. The$7 billion-asset credit union said in a press release that it expects to buy the $419 million-asset bank from parent American National Bancorp in the second half of this year. The price wasn't disclosed. "This acquisition represents a meaningful step forward in our commitment to deepen our presence in key Wisconsin markets," Timothy Mackay,

Union Bank in Morrisville, Vt., has a new leader. The $1.6 billion-asset unit of Union Bankshares said in a press release that Jeff Weidley had become its president and CEO after an extensive search process. Weidley succeeded David Silverman, who retired. Weidley recently served as chief deposit officer at MVB Bank. “Union Bank has always believed that staying local doesn’t mean standing still,” Neil Van Dyke, the bank's chairman, said

Carver Bancorp in New York has rejected a new attempt by activist investor Dream Chasers Capital Group to nominate candidates to the board, the latest development in a long-running governance dispute. Carver said in a press release that Dream Chasers’ latest nomination notice failed to comply with the advance notice provisions outlined in the bank's bylaws, preventing the activist from presenting director candidates at the upcoming annual meeting. Carver said

A group led by the former CEO of Spirit of Texas Bank has agreed to buy Lone Star Bank in Houston. Journey Financial Group said in a press release that it plans to buy the $191 million-asset Lone Star by the third quarter. The price wasn't disclosed. Journey is led by Dean Bass and Kevin Bass. Dean Bass led Spirit of Texas Bank when it was sold to Simmons First