Equity Bank, Andover, Kan., has received approval to complete its previously announced mergers with Eastman National Bank of Newkirk, Okla., and Patriot Bank of Tulsa, Okla.
Equity expects each transaction to close by the end of the year.
After its close, Equity will have completed 13 successful integrations in its first 15 years and five mergers since the bank’s initial public offering in November 2015. The mergers with Eastman and Patriot add Oklahoma to Equity’s Midwestern footprint, each with markets in close proximity to Equity’s corporate office in Wichita. Eastman’s corporate office in Ponca City is 55 miles from Wichita and Patriot’s headquarters in Tulsa is 170 miles from Wichita.
The deal closes as Equity executives expressed confidence in their bank’s markets.
“At this time we don’t see a lot of weakness,” said Brad Elliot. “We are staying away from things that