The Bank Slate

INSIGHTS INTO THE BANKING INDUSTRY

Ponce Bank in N.Y. to record gain from sale-leaseback

Ponce Bank in N.Y. to record gain from sale-leaseback

PDL Community Bancorp in New York expects to record a pretax gain of $4.2 million after completing a sale-leaseback transaction.The $1.4 billion-asset parent of Ponce Bank said in a press release Tuesday that it sold a property in Bronx, N.Y., for $5.7 million on June 4. The property had a net book value of $1.1 million on April 30. The bank entered into a 15- year lease agreement with an initial base

June 8, 2021
Regions buying home-improvement lender for $960M

Regions buying home-improvement lender for $960M

Regions Financial in Birmingham, Ala., has agreed to buy EnerBank USA, a home improvement lender based in Salt Lake City. The $153 billion-asset Regions said in a press release Tuesday that it will pay $960 million for the $3.1 billion-asset industrial loan company. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter. EnerBank has served more than a million homeowners and 10,000 contractors through mobile, online and phone-based point-of-sale

June 8, 2021
FB Financial’s biggest shareholder reducing stake

FB Financial’s biggest shareholder reducing stake

The biggest shareholder at FB Financial in Nashville, Tenn., is selling a large block of stock. The $11.9 billion-asset company disclosed in a regulatory filing Monday that Jim Ayers, its founder and vice chairman, plans to sell 2.5 million shares in a secondary offering. The stock is worth roughly $104.4 million based on the company closing price the day of the filing. The stock represents about 5.3% of FB Financial’s

June 8, 2021
How the Independent-Meridian deal materialized

How the Independent-Meridian deal materialized

Independent Bank in Hanover, Mass., initially balked at making an offer for Meridian Bancorp in Peabody, Mass. The $13.8 billion-asset Independent, when first approached about a potential deal in January, passed, citing a need to focus on other priorities, according to a recent regulatory filing tied to the pending acquisition. But it only took senior management a few weeks to reconsider talking to the $6.5 billion-asset Meridian. The companies announced a $1.2 billion merger on April 22; the

June 8, 2021
HBT Financial entering Iowa with pending NXT deal

HBT Financial entering Iowa with pending NXT deal

HBT Financial in Bloomington, Ill., has agreed to buy NXT Bancorp. in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The $3.9 billion-asset HBT said in a press release Monday that it will pay $42.8 million in cash and stock for the parent of the $241 million-asset NXT Bank. The deal, which is expected to close in the fourth quarter, priced NXT at 134% of its tangible book value.NXT Bank has $198 million of loans and

June 7, 2021
KBW hires Matt Kelley as next director of research

KBW hires Matt Kelley as next director of research

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods has a new director of research. The New York investment bank, which is part of Stifel Financial, said in a press release Monday that it had promoted Matt Kelley. He succeeded Fred Cannon, who retired earlier this year.“With significant buy-side and sell-side equity research experience, Matt is eminently qualified for the position,” Thomas Michaud, KBW’s president and CEO, said in the release. “We are confident he will

June 7, 2021
Simmons lines up two bank acquisitions in Tennessee

Simmons lines up two bank acquisitions in Tennessee

Simmons First National in Pine Bluff, Ark., has agreed to buy Landmark Community Bank in Collierville, Tenn., and Triumph Bancshares in Memphis, Tenn. The $23.3 billion-asset Simmons said in a press release Monday that it will pay $146.3 million in cash and stock for the $1 billion-asset Landmark and $131 million in cash and stock for the $900 million-asset Triumph. The deals, which are expected to close in the fourth quarter, priced

June 7, 2021
Elberton Federal in Ga. converting before sale to Oconee

Elberton Federal in Ga. converting before sale to Oconee

Oconee Financial in Watkinsville, Ga., has agreed to buy Elberton Federal Savings and Loan Association in Elberton, Ga. The $520 million-asset Oconee said in a press release Tuesday that the $29 million-asset Elberton, a federal mutual savings association, will convert to a stock-owned bank before the merger. Oconee will offer shares of its common stock to qualifying Elberton customers, and possibly others, in a subscription offering and a community offering.

June 5, 2021

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