Strategic Insights into Banking & Fintech

Atlantic Union in Va. sells $2 billion CRE pool to Blackstone

Atlantic Union in Va. sells $2 billion CRE pool to Blackstone

Atlantic Union Bankshares in Richmond, Va., sold $2 billion of performing CRE loans to Blackstone. Atlantic Union, which inherited the loans when it bought Sandy Spring Bancorp on April 1, said when it announced the acquisition last year that it planned to sell the CRE loans. The loan sale “is another proof point of Atlantic Union’s ability to execute and deliver on transactions that create long-term value for our shareholders,"

June 27, 2025
Maverick Bancshares in Texas to buy parent of Tejas Bank

Maverick Bancshares in Texas to buy parent of Tejas Bank

Maverick Bancshares in Lubbock, Texas, has agreed to buy Sandhills Bancshares in Monahans, Texas. The $425 million-asset Maverick did not disclose how much it will pay for the $225 million-asset parent of Tejas Bank. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter. “This isn’t just an expansion. It’s about strengthening our presence in the region we call home,” Brent Leslie, Maverick's CEO, said in a press release. “Tejas

June 25, 2025
Community Financial in N.Y. buying seven Pa. branches from Santander

Community Financial in N.Y. buying seven Pa. branches from Santander

Community Financial System in Syracuse, N.Y., has agreed to buy seven branches in the Allentown, Pa., area from Santander Bank. Santander said in a press release that the sale includes $600 million in deposits and $33 million in branch-related loans. Community Financial will pay an 8% deposit premium. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter. "As we grow our presence nationally, we are making refinements to our

June 25, 2025
Glacier in Montana to enter Texas with Guaranty Bank acquisition

Glacier in Montana to enter Texas with Guaranty Bank acquisition

Glacier Bancorp in Kalispell, Mont., will enter Texas after agreeing to buy Guaranty Bancshares in Mount Pleasant, Texas. The $28.2 billion-asset Glaicer said in a press release that it will pay $476.2 million in stock for the $3.2 billion-asset Guaranty. The deal, which is expected to close in the fourth quarter, priced Guaranty at 162% of its tangible book value. Guaranty has 33 branches, $2.1 billion of loans, and $2.7

June 25, 2025
Former BaaS bank Mode Eleven to seek buyer through bankruptcy

Former BaaS bank Mode Eleven to seek buyer through bankruptcy

Mode Eleven Bancorp in Hulett, Wyo., which decided to shut down its Banking-as-a-Service platform last year after being hit with a regulatory order, is looking to sell its bank through a bankruptcy process. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on June 9. It is working with Hovde Group to find a buyer for its Summit National Bank. The filing was prompted by concerns that the bank could face

June 24, 2025
Amerant in Florida adds banking vet Jack Kopnisky to board

Amerant in Florida adds banking vet Jack Kopnisky to board

Amerant Bancorp in Coral Gables, Fla., has recruited a high-profile banker to its board. The company said in a press release that Jack Kopnisky had become a director. Kopnisky was president and CEO of Sterling Bancorp when it sold to Webster Financial. He would later serve as Webster's chairman. Amerant also added Patty Morrison, former chief information officer at Cardinal Health, to its board.

June 24, 2025
AgFirst Farm Credit Bank hires former Ford Motor Credit leader as CEO

AgFirst Farm Credit Bank hires former Ford Motor Credit leader as CEO

AgFirst Farm Credit Bank in Columbia, S.C., has lined up its next CEO. AgFirst said in a press release that Marion Harris will also become its president of July 14. Harris, a former chairman and CEO of Ford Motor Credit, will succeed Pat Calhoun, who had filled in as interim president and CEO. Calhoun will remain chief credit officer. Tim Amerson retired as president and CEO on Dec. 31. "The

June 24, 2025
First Financial in Ohio to buy Westfield Bancorp from Ohio Farmers Insurance

First Financial in Ohio to buy Westfield Bancorp from Ohio Farmers Insurance

First Financial Bancorp in Cincinnati has agreed to buy Westfield Bancorp in Westfield Center, Ohio. The $18.5 billion-asset First Financial said in a press release that it will pay $325 million in cash and stock to Ohio Farmers Insurance Co. for the $2.2 billion-asset Westfield. The deal, which had the codename Project Artemis and is expected to close in the fourth quarter, valued Westfield at 137% of its tangible book

June 24, 2025