Southern Bancorp, Inc. Acquires Arkansas County Bank (DeWitt First Bankshares)

First Bancorp Acquires GrandSouth Bancorporation

January 1, 2023

Financial Services

First Bancorp (parent of First Bank) completed its acquisition of GrandSouth Bancorporation (the parent of GrandSouth Bank) effective January 1, 2023 in an all-stock merger (0.91 shares of First Bancorp per GrandSouth share). The deal expands First Bank's presence in South Carolina by adding GrandSouth's eight branches and is expected to accelerate First Bancorp's South Carolina growth, creating a combined company with approximately $12 billion in assets and 118 branches.

FB Financial Acquires Southern States Bancshares

June 30, 2025

Financial Services

FB Financial Corporation (parent of FirstBank) completed its merger with Southern States Bancshares, Inc., with Southern States shareholders receiving 0.800 shares of FB Financial common stock per share. The transaction implies an approximate equity value of $368.4 million and expands FB Financial's footprint into Alabama and Georgia; Southern States reported $2.9 billion in total assets as of March 31, 2025.

Business First Bancshares (b1BANK) Acquires Smith Shellnut Wilson (SSW)

March 22, 2021

Financial Services

Business First Bancshares, Inc. (the holding company for b1BANK) signed a definitive agreement to acquire Smith Shellnut Wilson, LLC (SSW), a registered investment adviser headquartered in Ridgeland, Mississippi. The acquisition will consolidate b1BANK's Wealth Solutions Division with SSW, expanding the bank's investment advisory capabilities and product offering to corporate, foundation and individual clients.

Southern Bancorp, Inc. Acquires Ozarks Heritage Financial Group and Legacy Bank & Trust

January 5, 2026

Financial Services

Southern Bancorp, Inc. has closed its acquisition of Ozarks Heritage Financial Group, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary Legacy Bank & Trust, a $1.9 billion asset CDFI headquartered in Springfield, Missouri. The deal creates a nearly $5 billion asset community development financial institution and expands Southern Bancorp’s branch footprint across Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas.

The First Bancshares Acquires Beach Bancorp, Inc.

April 26, 2022

Financial Services

The First Bancshares, Inc. (The First) entered into and completed a definitive agreement to acquire Beach Bancorp, Inc., the parent of Beach Bank, in an all‑stock transaction valued at approximately $116.7 million based on First Bancshares’ April 25, 2022 closing price. Beach Bank — which operates seven branches across the Florida panhandle and Tampa markets — was merged into The First Bank, expanding The First’s footprint in Northwest Florida and providing an entry into the Tampa market.

BankFirst Capital Corporation Acquires The Magnolia State Corporation and Magnolia State Bank

July 1, 2025

Financial Services

BankFirst Capital Corporation completed its acquisition of The Magnolia State Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiary Magnolia State Bank effective July 1, 2025. The deal expands BankFirst’s branch network to 52 offices across Mississippi and Alabama and increases pro forma assets to approximately $3.2 billion, with gross loans of about $2.2 billion and deposits of roughly $2.8 billion; several Magnolia executives have joined BankFirst in regional leadership roles.