Strategic buyers

Cadence has upped the exchange ratio by 10%, a move made necessary by the 40% decline in its stock price since the deal was announced in May.

The combination of CCF Holding, Heritage Bancorp. and Providence Bank will create a $1 billion-asset institution. Veteran bank investor Kenneth Lehman will be its chairman.

Morris State will pay $24 million for the parent of Farmers & Merchants Bank.

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State Bank’s Evans started off his banking career by offering cold cans of soda to farmers in the field in the hopes of earning their business. Five decades on, he's widely known in banking circles for his prowess in building high-performing community banks and selling them for top dollar.

The past month was a busy one for community banks with expansion on the agenda and millions to spend.

The acquisition will increase Horizon’s core deposits and add branches around Indianapolis.

First Merchants in Indiana would pass $10 billion in assets by acquiring MBT Financial in Michigan.

In what would be its third acquisition in a year, the company formerly known as BofI Holding is buying a firm that clears trades for independent broker-dealers.

Hanmi alleges that SWNB's directors actively advised the Houston bank's investors to reject the merger.