Equity Bancshares Inc (EQBK) News & EventsEQBKEquity Bancshares Inc

Equity Bancshares and Lincoln Bancorp Enter Merger Agreement Valued at Approximately $123.8 Million

Equity Bancshares (EQBK), along with Lincoln Bancorp (LNCB) have entered into a definitive merger agreement for Lincoln to merge with and into Equity, adding 16 locations to Equity's franchise. Under the merger agreement, unanimously approved by both Boards, Lincoln shareholders will receive approximately 77.5% of the merger consideration in EQBK stock and the remaining 22.5% in cash. The total consideration was valued at approximately $123.8M. Subject to receipt of customary regulatory and shareholder approvals and closing conditions, the merger is expected to close in Q4. Following completion, Lincoln Savings Bank will merge with and into Equity Bank. Established in 1902, Lincoln Savings Bank currently operates locations in Iowa. As of June 30, Lincoln reported $1.7B in total assets, including $1.2B in loans and $1.5B in deposits. As of June 30, Equity reported $7.7B in assets. Adding Lincoln and adjusting to reduce excess liquidity on the combined balance sheet, proforma will comprise approximately $9.1B in total assets for the Equity franchise. The transaction is expected to be approximately 5.1%, or 27c, accretive to Equity's 2027 earnings per share and 7.5%, or 42c, accretive to Equity's 2028 EPS, excluding the impact of one-time transaction expenses. Estimated tangible book value per share dilution to Equity is expected to be earned back in less than three years.

Equity Bancshares Q2 Revenue at $81.9M, Below Consensus

Reports Q2 revenue $81.9M, consensus $85.1M. During the quarter, the Company recognized a provision for loan losses of $1.3 million, decreasing significantly from the prior quarter which was elevated due to integration of Frontier balances into the reserve framework. Net charge-offs were $1.7 million, or an annualized 12 basis points of average loans. "This quarter demonstrates what we wanted to accomplish when we entered into and then closed the Frontier transaction on January 1. It has driven growth in both earnings and efficiency. Our ROATCE was 16.6% and our efficiency ratio was 53.4% both improving meaningfully. We have built the franchise to compete and continuously drive improving performance," said Brad S. Elliott, Chairman and CEO of Equity Bancshares. "The core conversion is complete, the integration work is largely behind us, and our team is focused on what we do best: growing relationships, serving customers, and producing results. The second half of 2026 is about execution and organic growth, and Rick Sems has done a great job working with the entire team, both old and new, to position them to have the ability to grow organically,"

U.S. and Iranian Negotiators Discuss Resolving Disagreements

Discussions of organizing U.S. and Iranian negotiator to iron out their disagreements, along with reports that European governments are taking a more active role in helping unclog the shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, are boosting investor sentiment.  More benign than expected wholesale inflation data also worked in tandem to cooling geopolitical worries in continued repricing of Fed policy expectations toward greater likelihood of easing and supporting U.S. Treasuries.  Equities finished broadly higher, led by Consumer Cyclicals, Communications Services and Tech.  Meanwhile, Energy remained under pressure as Crude Oil prices continued to sink.In the opening hours of the evening session, WTI Crude Oil is falling further toward $88 per barrel, helped by a large build in API Petroleum inventories data leaving little concern of supply shock.  Equity futures are also slightly higher, with S&P e-minis now solidly above 7,000 and Nasdaq 100 breaching above 26,000 - with the latter also closing above the levels seen just before U.S.-Iran escalation.Check out this evening's top movers from around Wall Street, compiled by The Fly.HIGHER AFTER EARNINGS -Gloo Holdingsup 19.3%Mama's Creationsup 3.9%ALSO HIGHER -NN, Inc.up 12.1% after Q1 pre-announcementStoneCo Ltd.up 7.8% after announcing special dividendGitLabup 5.8% after announcing expanded partnership with Google CloudNIKEup 2.0% after insider buying activitySmith-Midlanddown 1.5%DOWN AFTER EARNINGS -Equity Bancsharesdown 2.2%ALSO LOWER -BRPdown 8% after suspending 2027 guidance due to changes in tariff environmentTeraWulfdown 6.4% after equity offeringSolarEdge Technologiesdown 3.6% after being cut to Sell at Goldman SachsAutolivdown 1.6% after being cut to hold at Jefferies