Equity Bancshares to acquire Kansas bank

Wichita, Kan.-based Equity Bancshares, Inc., is expanding in the state by acquiring Quinter-based KansasLand Bank. 

The $55 million KansasLand Bank has two branches, one in the northwestern Kansas community of Quinter and the other in the east-central city of Americus. Equity Bancshares is the holding company of Equity Bank, which already has one branch in Quinter and two branches in Topeka, Kan., which is northeast of Americus. Through the acquisition, Equity Bank will grow to include 73 branches, including 38 in Kansas, and have $5.3 billion in assets. 

Equity Bank has completed nearly two dozen whole-bank, deposit or branch acquisitions since 2002. In February, Equity added eight locations in north-central Missouri by acquiring Rockhold Bancorp and its subsidiary, the Bank of Kirksville.

 “This merger will provide our customers unparalleled customer service and access to state-of-the-art financial products and services, while ensuring the continuation of our mission of giving back to our communities,” said KansasLand Bank Chair and CEO Scott Bird. 

Equity Bancshares Chair and CEO Brad Elliott said the two locations “are important to our state and offer excellent opportunities for Equity to continue to enact our mission. This merger underscores our commitment to serving communities across the state, providing people with access to financial services and fostering economic growth.”