Strategic Insights into Banking & Fintech

Equipment finance company agrees to buy Heritage Bank in Iowa

Equipment finance company agrees to buy Heritage Bank in Iowa

GreatAmerica Holdings, which owns a commercial equipment finance company, has agreed to buy Heritage Bank in Marion, Iowa. GreatAmerica did not disclose how much it would pay for the $40.4 million-asset Heritage, which it plans to rebrand as GreatAmerica Bank. “GreatAmerica and Heritage Bank will work in tandem ... to continue growing and strengthening our existing customer relationships—while also building new ones—across all the industries we serve,” Martin Golobic, GreatAmerica's

July 19, 2025
Stripe to buy fintech focused on instant money movement

Stripe to buy fintech focused on instant money movement

Stripe has agreed to buy Orum.io, a New York fintech that builds infrastructure to allow for instant money movement across U.S. financial institutions. Stephany Kirkpatrick, who founded Orum in 2019, announced the sale in a LinkedIn post. The price wasn't disclosed. "After thoughtful consideration, it became clear that we have a rare opportunity to accelerate Orum’s mission and greatly increase our impact by becoming part of Stripe," she wrote. "Alongside

July 18, 2025
Mass. credit union turns to backup plan after sale to bank falls through

Mass. credit union turns to backup plan after sale to bank falls through

Arrha Credit Union in Springfield, Mass., has agreed to merge into another credit union after its unconventional plan to sell to Pittsfield Co-operative Bank in Pittsfield, Mass., fell through. The $2.2 billion-asset BrightBridge Credit Union in Lawrence, Mass., will absorb Arrha in a merger that should be completed earlier next year. “Arrha Credit Union has a long-standing reputation for supporting its members with integrity, care and genuine down-to-earth service. Our

July 18, 2025
Home in Arkansas hopeful it will announce bank deal soon

Home in Arkansas hopeful it will announce bank deal soon

Home BancShares in Conway, Ark., is looking for an acquisition to help it meet a big financial goal. The $22.9 billion-asset company is keen to boost annual net income to $500 million in 2026, Chairman and CEO Johnny Allison said during a conference call to discuss quarterly earnings. "We need to find something to buy that will be additive to our income," Allison said. "That just rings the bell with

July 18, 2025
HomeStreet in Seattle to sell $794M Ginnie Mae portfolio

HomeStreet in Seattle to sell $794M Ginnie Mae portfolio

HomeStreet in Seattle has agreed to sell its Ginnie Mae mortgage servicing portfolio. The $8 billion-asset HomeStreet, which recently agreed to sell itself to Mechanics Bank in California, did not disclose the buyer. The sale is expected to close on Aug. 1. The principal balance of the loans to be sold was $794 million on June 30, 2025. Because HomeStreet carried the portfolio at current market value on June 30,

July 18, 2025
Avidbank in California files for upcoming IPO

Avidbank in California files for upcoming IPO

Avidbank Holdings in San Jose, Calif., has filed a prospectus in advance of its planned initial public offering. The $2.3 billion-asset Avidbank did not disclose how many shares it plans to sell. Published reports said the company could look to raise up to $70 million. A "substantial amount" of the net proceeds would be used to increase capital at the bank level for organic growth. Capital could also be used

July 18, 2025
Prosperity to buy parent of American Bank in Texas for $320 million

Prosperity to buy parent of American Bank in Texas for $320 million

Prosperity Bancshares in Houston has agreed to buy American Bank Holding Co. in Corpus Christi, Texas. The $38.8 billion-asset Prosperity said in a press release that it will pay $321.5 million in stock for the parent of the $2.5 billion-asset American Bank. The deal, which is expected to close by the first quarter, priced American at 226% of its tangible book value. American has 18 branches, two loan production offices,

July 18, 2025
Bank First to buy Centre 1 Bancorp in Wisconsin

Bank First to buy Centre 1 Bancorp in Wisconsin

Bank First in Manitowoc, Wis., has agreed to buy Centre 1 Bancorp in Beloit, Wis., in a deal that will expand its reach into southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. The $4.4 billion-asset Bank First said in a press release that it will pay $174.3 million in stock for the $1.6 billion-asset Centre. The deal, which is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, priced Centre and 195% of

July 18, 2025