FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arvest Bank (“Arvest”) announced today the closing of its acquisition of Bear State Financial, Inc. (“Bear State”), the parent company of Bear State Bank.
As of Dec. 31, 2017, Bear State had assets of $2.16 billion, with $1.67 billion in loans and $1.5 billion in deposits, while Arvest had assets of $16.75 billion, with $10.44 billion in loans and $14.37 billion in deposits. As previously announced, this acquisition was a cash transaction valued at approximately $391 million. With the close of the deal, Arvest will have assets of approximately $18.76 billion.
The acquisition adds new communities to Arvest’s footprint in northeast Arkansas, southwest Arkansas, southern Missouri and southeast Oklahoma. Bear State also has banking locations in 18 communities already served by Arvest. With the close of the deal, Arvest now serves more than 135 communities in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.
Arvest and Bear State are now legally one bank, but will continue to operate under separate names until sometime this fall, when Bear State branches, accounts and operations will be transitioned to Arvest. Until that transition is complete, customers should continue banking at their current bank locations.
“We are pleased to welcome Bear State customers and associates to Arvest. We have expressed from the beginning of this acquisition how excited we are to add these desirable communities to our footprint. Now we will start working together to combine the two companies to benefit our customers and the communities we serve.”
Jason Kincy, Arvest marketing director
Bear State customers with questions should contact their local Bear State banker or Bear State’s solutions center at (866) 242-3324.