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

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

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

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.

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

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

Fiserv in Milwaukee plans to form a digital asset platform that will include a stablecoin. The company said in a press release that it aims to add the stablecoin, to be called FIUSD, to its banking and payments infrastructure by the end of the year. FIUSD expects to use stablecoin infrastructure from Paxos and Circle Internet Group. “We are relentlessly focused on delivering state-of-the-art innovation, efficiency, and choice to all of

First National Bank Coastal Community in Wellington, Fla., has a new leader. The $503 million-asset bank said in a press release that Shaun Williams had also become its president. He was the chief lending officer at Marine Bank. “It’s an honor to lead a bank that believes in the power of relationships and local decision-making,” Williams said in the release. “Over the next year, we will focus on growing our