Fed approves First Citizens-CIT, two other big mergers
The Federal Reserve Board has paved the way for several large bank mergers to close. The Fed said in a series of press releases Friday that it had approved applications by First Citzens BancShares to buy CIT Group, Webster Financial to buy Sterling Bancorp and WSFS Financial to acquire Bryn Mawr Bank. First Citizens announced […]
Coastal Financial in Wash. plans to raise $30M
Coastal Financial in Everett, Wash., plans to raise up to $34.5 million by selling common stock. The $2.5 billion-asset company said in a press release that it plans to sell at least $30 million of stock, with an overallotment that could bring in another $4.5 million. The company said it plans to use the net […]
Regions to buy tech-focused M&A advisory firm
Regions Financial in Birmingham, Ala., has agreed to buy Clearsight Advisors, a McLean, Va., M&A advisory firm focused on technology firms. The $156 billion-asset Regions said in a press release Friday that Clearsight also works with industries such as professional services, data and information services and digital and technology-enabled services. The deal is expected to […]
Avadian Credit Union agrees to buy Alabama bank
Avadian Credit Union in Huntsville, Ala., has agreed to buy Citizens State Bank in Vernon, Ala. The $1.1 billion-asset Avadian entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Citizens Southern Bancshares, the parent of the $85.4 million-asset Citizens State, according to an announcement by Olsen Palmer, which represented the seller. The price of the all-cash […]
Silvergate, EJF Capital form fintech-focused fund
Silvergate Capital in La Jolla, Calif., and EJF Capital in Arlington, Va., have launched a joint investment vehicle that will focus on early stage fintechs. The $12.8 billion-asset Silvergate said in a press release Thursday that the EJF Silvergate Ventures Fund will also invest in digital currencies, payments and banking and specialty finance technology. The […]
Customers in Pa. debuts logo reflecting fintech focus
Customers Bancorp in West Reading, Pa., is introducing a new website and logo to support its efforts to become a more fintech-focused financial institution. The $19.1 billion-asset company said in a press release Thursday that the move also reflects a push to offer more products and services nationwide. Customers already has national exposure after making […]
Proposed Georgia bank gets conditional FDIC approval
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has given conditional approval to a bank planned in Moultrie, Ga. The agency is requiring the organizers of Moultrie Bank & Trust to raise $20 million before opening, according to the Dec. 13 order. Organizers applied for deposit insurance in July. A consultant for the group said at that time […]
Home in Louisiana to enter Texas via acquisition
Home Bancorp in Lafayette, La., has agreed to buy Friendswood Capital in Houston. The $2.7 billion-asset Home said in a press release Wednesday that it will pay $67 million in cash for the parent of $445 million-asset Texan Bank. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter. The move makes Home’s first entry […]
Bank of the James to buy Virginia RIA
Bank of the James Financial Group in Lynchburg, Va., has agreed to buy Pettyjohn, Wood, & White, a registered investment adviser in Lynchburg. The $943 million-asset Bank of the James said in a press release Wednesday that Pettyjohn, Wood & White has more than $650 million of assets under management. The firm provides investment advisory services […]
CItizens buying investment bank focused on digital infrastructure
Citizens Financial Group in Providence, R.I., has agreed to buy DH Capital, an investment banking firm in New York. DH Capital, which also has an office in Boulder, Colo., serves companies in the Internet infrastructure, software and next-gen IT services, and communications sectors. The $170 billion-asset Citizens did not disclose the price it paid. DH […]
California de novo launches entrepreneurship division
Genesis Bank in Newport Beach, Calif., has created a program to support entrepreneurs. The $57 million-asset de novo said in a press release Wednesday that it had formed the Genesis Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship, a business accelerator and advisory division. The group will focus on accelerating entrepreneurship and growth for businesses, government and municipal entities, […]
BayCom, Pacific Enterprise investors approve merger
Shareholders have approved the pending sale of Pacific Enterprise Bancorp in Irvine, Calif., to of BayCom in Walnut Creek, Calif. The votes had some last-minute drama when Shaul Kopelwitz, a big Pacific Enterprise shareholder, disclosed that he would vote against the $53 million deal. He took issue with the discounted pricing of the acquisition. The […]
Carver in N.Y. sets up potential $20M in stock sales
Carver Bancorp in New York has lined up an agreement to sell $20 million of common stock over time. The $707 million-asset company disclosed in a regulatory filing Tuesday that it retained Piper Sandler to handle potential stock sales. Sandler will be paid a 3% commission tied to the aggregate purchase price of each sale. […]
SVB buys research firm with technology focus
SVB Financial in Santa Clara, Calif., has acquired a sell-side research firm that covers the media, communications and technology sectors. The $190 billion-asset SVB said in a press release Monday that it bought MoffettNathanson in a move that should help its SVB Leerink investment banking business expand its research coverage. SVB did not disclose the […]
Heritage Commerce taps insider as next bank president
Heritage Commerce in San Jose, Calif., has a new bank president. The $5.5 billion-asset company said in a press release Monday that Clay Jones had also become the bank’s chief operating officer. Walter Kaczmarek, the company’s president and CEO, will remain the bank’s CEO. “Clay is an exceptional leader and his promotion … places him […]
First Republic co-CEO Herbert to take medical leave
First Republic Bank in San Francisco announced that Chairman and co-CEO Jim Herbert will take a medical leave of absence tied to a coronary health issue. The $172.6 billion-asset bank said in a press release Monday that Herbert’s leave will begin on Jan. 1 and should last about six months. He will also step down […]
Byline in Chicago to close six branches in 2022
Byline Bancorp in Chicago plans to close six branches and sell a portfolio of bank-owned real estate. The $6.7 billion-asset company said in a press release Friday that it will also reduce its office space. The branch closures, which will take place next year, represent about 14% of Byline’s network. The real estate portfolio includes […]
Ameris buys equipment-finance fintech Balboa Capital
Ameris Bancorp in Atlanta has acquired a fintech that provides equipment-finance loans to small and midsize businesses. The $22.5 billion-asset company said in a press release Monday that it bought Balboa Capital is Costa Mesa, Calif. Ameris did not disclose the price it paid, though the company said it paid cash. Ameris said the acquisition […]
Meta Financial rebranding after selling rights to its name
Meta Financial in Sioux Falls, S.D., will rebrand next year after selling its Meta-related rights and trademarks to another company. The $6.7 billion-asset Meta disclosed in a regulatory filing Monday that it agreed on Dec. 7 to sell the rights to Beige Key LLC for $60 million. As part of the agreement, Meta will phase […]
Atlantic Union in Va. to close more branches in 2022
Atlantic Union Bankshares in Richmond, Va., is planning a third round of branch closures. The $19.9 billion-asset company said in a press release Friday that it will shutter 16 locations, representing about 12% of its total branch network, by March 1. Atlantic Union also plans to close an operations center and sell 21,500 shares of […]
Proxy battle brewing at Republic First in Pennsylvania
An activist investor plans to nominate three candidates for the board of Republic First Bancorp in Philadelphia. Driver Management also wants the $5.4 billion-asset Republic to replace Vernon Hill, the company’s CEO, with an independent chairman. The investor has also voiced its opposition to a plan by Republic First to raise more capital. Driver has […]
Valley in N.J. taps insider as bank president
Valley National Bancorp in Wayne, N.J., has a new bank president. The $41 billion-asset Valley said in a press release Thursday that Thomas Iadanza will oversee the bank’s day-to-day operations, including commercial banking, retail banking, digital products, credit, customer experience and financial services. Iadanza recently served as chief banking officer. “Tom is an exceptional leader […]
Pacific Enterprise investor to vote against BayCom deal
A big shareholder of Pacific Enterprise Bancorp has voiced his opposition to the Irvine, Calif., company’s pending sale to BayCom in Walnut Creek, Calif. The $2.1 billion-asset BayCom agreed in September to buy the $647 million-asset Pacific Enterprise for $53.1 million in stock. The deal, which is expected to close in the first quarter, priced […]
Alerus bulking up in Phoenix with bank acquisition
Alerus Financial in Grand Forks, N.D., has agreed to buy MPB BHC in Phoenix. The $3.2 billion-asset Alerus said in a press release Thursday that it will pay $85.3 million in stock for the parent of the $411 million-asset Metro Phoenix Bank. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter. Metro Phoenix, founded […]
Community Financial in Md. lines up next CEO
Community Financial in Waldorf, Md., will have a new CEO next summer. The $2.3 billion-asset company said in a press release Wednesday that Jimmy Burke will succeed Bill Pasenelli on Aug. 31. Pasenelli also plans plans to retire from the company’s board. “We believe that Bill and the management team have positioned the company well […]