Business First Bancshares Acquires Oakwood Bancshares and Oakwood Bank

Business First Bancshares Acquires Progressive Bancorp and Progressive Bank

January 5, 2026

Financial Services

Business First Bancshares, Inc. (the holding company for b1BANK) completed its acquisition of Progressive Bancorp, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary Progressive Bank. The deal expands b1BANK's presence across North Louisiana, adding nine locations and increasing Business First's total assets to approximately $8.7 billion.

First Financial Bancorp Acquires BankFinancial Corporation

January 1, 2026

Financial Services

First Financial Bancorp completed its all-stock acquisition of Chicago-based BankFinancial Corporation, adding 18 retail financial centers and expanding First Financial’s presence in the Chicago market. The acquisition brings BankFinancial’s commercial lending, equipment finance and deposit franchise onto First Financial’s platform and increases the combined company’s assets to approximately $22 billion.

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.

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.

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.

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.