PAWHUSKA, Okla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Officials today at N.B.C. Bancshares in Pawhuska, Inc. (NBC), parent company of Blue Sky Bank, and officials at Bank of Cushing jointly announce the signing of an agreement pursuant to which NBC will purchase 100% of the stock of Bank of Cushing. Bank of Cushing will continue to operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of NBC. Upon completion of the transaction, the combined banks will have greater than $300 million in assets.
“At NBC, we are actively pursuing opportunities to continue our growth trajectory, and the Bank of Cushing acquisition is a key step in our long-term goal,” said Gentner Drummond, majority owner of NBC. “Individually, our banks have been serving Oklahomans for more than 115 years. Together, we strengthen our resources to serve the next generation of Oklahomans.”
Drummond announced that Bank of Cushing’s President John Bryant and Executive Vice President Brenda Magdeburg will continue to lead the Bank of Cushing.
“This partnership preserves the excellent and consistent management of the bank who will continue directly supporting the citizens and businesses of Cushing,” Drummond said. “The cultures of the Bank of Cushing and Blue Sky Bank are very complimentary with a strong commitment to providing exceptional advice and superior customer service.”
The board of directors of both companies approved the transaction, which is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2018 and remains subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approval.
“We are fortunate to have found the perfect partner for our bank with a commitment to serving the local market and increasing its presence in Cushing,” said Bryant. “This transaction will allow us to offer more services and continue to enhance our customer experience.”
Upon completion of the transaction, Bank of Cushing will join NBC’s banking operations doing business as Blue Sky Bank in Tulsa, Pawhuska and Cleveland, Okla.
“Our mission at Blue Sky is to provide service that consistently exceeds our customer’s expectations at all levels, in all departments, at all times,” said Blue Sky CEO Evans Rector. “We pledge to continue this level of service to the current and future customers of Bank of Cushing.”
Sandler O’Neill + Partners, L.P. served as a financial advisor to NBC and D.A. Davidson & Co. served as financial advisor to Bank of Cushing. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
About Blue Sky Bank: Blue Sky Bank was originally chartered in Osage County, Okla. in 1905 as the Bank of Commerce in Pawhuska. During the last 113 years, it has grown and changed names several times, being known as the National Bank of Commerce, NBC Bank and, most recently, Citizens Bank of Oklahoma. While maintaining its roots in Pawhuska, the bank grew first to mid-town Tulsa in 2004 and then expanded into Cleveland, Okla. in 2014. Citizens Bank was renamed Blue Sky Bank on November 1, 2016.
About Bank of Cushing: Bank of Cushing was established in 1897. In 1907, the bank consolidated with another small, community bank to become Farmer’s State Bank. In 1913, the bank nationalized to become Farmer’s National Bank. By 1917, Stephen A. Bryant, Tom J. Hughes, and R.C. Jones purchased the principal stock of the Farmer’s National Bank. The bank has remained a part of the Bryant family and, in 1978, John A. Bryant became the current president and chairman of the bank. In 1980, the bank changed its name to Bank of Cushing and continues to serve as the primary provider for citizens and businesses in the greater Cushing region.
