Equity Bancshares, Inc. Completes Merger with NBC Corp. of Oklahoma
Equity Doubles Oklahoma Franchise to 15 Locations
WICHITA, Kan., July 3, 2025 -- Equity Bancshares, Inc. (NYSE: EQBK) (“Equity” or the “Company”), the Wichita-based holding company of Equity Bank, announced the completed acquisition of NBC Corp. of Oklahoma (“NBC”), the parent company of NBC Oklahoma, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. With this acquisition, Equity has added seven locations in the state to its current network.
“Our vision has always been to create a regional community bank that remains agile, responsive, and customer-focused,” said Brad Elliott, Chairman and founder of Equity Bancshares. “This merger accelerates that vision by joining forces with a bank that shares our values and entrepreneurial spirit. We look forward to building on NBC’s legacy in Oklahoma.”
NBC locations are reopening as Equity Bank on July 3. The Company expects to consolidate the core and digital banking systems in late August 2025.
Equity announced the merger with NBC on April 2, 2025. Equity has approximately $6.4 billion in proforma consolidated assets and now operates 82 locations in Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. Equity’s Oklahoma franchise grows to 15 locations, made up of 14 banks and one loan production office in Alva, OK.
The combination with NBC brings Equity’s total strategic transactions to 25 since the Company’s founding in 2002, including 13 whole-bank acquisitions since the Company’s initial public offering in 2015.
“This transaction represents another step in Equity’s disciplined acquisition strategy, reinforcing its position as a leading community banking franchise in the Midwest,” said Equity CEO Rick Sems.
About Equity Bancshares, Inc.
Equity Bancshares, Inc. is the holding company for Equity Bank, offering a full range of financial solutions, including commercial loans, consumer banking, mortgage loans, trust and wealth management services and treasury management services, while delivering the high-quality, relationship-based customer service of a community bank. Equity’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “EQBK.” Learn more at www.equitybank.com.
Special Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements reflect the current views of Equity’s management with respect to, among other things, future events and Equity’s financial performance. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “predict,” “potential,” “believe,” “will likely result,” “expect,” “continue,” “will,” “anticipate,” “seek,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “goal,” “target,” “would” and “outlook,” or the negative variations of those words or other comparable words of a future or forward-looking nature. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about Equity’s industry, management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by management, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond Equity’s control. Accordingly, Equity cautions you that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, assumptions and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Although Equity believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, actual results may prove to be materially different from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Equity’s expectations include competition from other financial institutions and bank holding companies; the effects of and changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve Board; changes in the demand for loans; fluctuations in value of collateral and loan reserves; inflation, interest rate, market and monetary fluctuations; changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; and acquisitions and integration of acquired businesses; and similar variables. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. In addition, the following factors, among others, related to the transaction between Equity and NBC, could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from forward-looking statements or historical performance: the possibility that the anticipated benefits of the transaction will not be realized when expected or at all, including as a result of the impact of, or problems arising from, the integration of the two companies or as a result of the strength of the economy and competitive factors in the areas where companies do business; the possibility that the transaction may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events; diversion of management’s attention from ongoing business operations and opportunities; potential adverse reactions or changes to business or employee relationships, including those resulting