Did you know another bank buy is in the works?
Down in Ashley County, a Louisiana suitor is pursuing the parent company of Crossett’s First National Bank in a $12.8 million deal.
A definitive agreement is in place for Century Next Financial Corp. of Ruston to purchase Ashley Bancstock Co. and its $156 million-asset bank.
The plan is to merge First National, with its staff of 42 and four full-service locations in Ashley County, into the Bank of Ruston, which has $289 million in assets.
First National has two offices in Crossett and one each in Hamburg and Fountain Hill. The bank recorded a $2.3 million profit during 2017.
The deal in extreme southeast Arkansas joins a pending merger in extreme northwest Arkansas announced earlier this month.
Legacy BancShares Inc. of Springdale intends to acquire Gravett Bancshares Inc., holding company of the $117 million-asset Bank of Gravett.
The Benton County lender recorded a $1 million profit during 2017, supported by a staff of 41 in three full-service locations in Gravette, Hiwasse and Centerton.
Legacy BancShares is the parent company of the $458 million-asset Legacy National Bank, which has one full-service branch in Benton County.
In addition to the Rogers office, Legacy has four full-service offices in Washington County, three in Springdale and one in Fayetteville.