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Carter Bank Announces North Carolina Branch Acquisition From First Reliance Bank

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Carter Bank (NASDAQ:CARE) has announced a strategic acquisition of two North Carolina branches from First Reliance Bank. The transaction involves Carter Bank acquiring deposits and assets from First Reliance's branches in Mooresville and Winston-Salem, including the Winston-Salem facility. Carter Bank will pay a 4.6% deposit premium on the average closing balance of transaction accounts but will not acquire any loans.

Following the transaction's completion, expected in the first half of 2025, Carter Bank will operate 66 locations across Virginia and North Carolina. The Mooresville deposits will be transferred to Carter Bank's existing branch. This move strengthens Carter Bank's presence in North Carolina, particularly between Greensboro and Charlotte, while allowing First Reliance to focus on its core South Carolina markets.

Carter Bank (NASDAQ:CARE) ha annunciato un'acquisizione strategica di due filiali in North Carolina da First Reliance Bank. La transazione prevede che Carter Bank acquisisca depositi e beni dalle filiali di First Reliance a Mooresville e Winston-Salem, inclusa la struttura di Winston-Salem. Carter Bank pagherà un premio del 4,6% sui depositi medi a saldo delle conti di transazione, ma non acquisirà prestiti.

Una volta completata la transazione, prevista nel primo semestre del 2025, Carter Bank opererà 66 sedi in Virginia e North Carolina. I depositi di Mooresville saranno trasferiti alla filiale esistente di Carter Bank. Questa mossa rafforza la presenza di Carter Bank in North Carolina, in particolare tra Greensboro e Charlotte, permettendo a First Reliance di concentrarsi sui suoi mercati principali in South Carolina.

Carter Bank (NASDAQ:CARE) ha anunciado una adquisición estratégica de dos sucursales en Carolina del Norte de First Reliance Bank. La transacción implica que Carter Bank adquiera depósitos y activos de las sucursales de First Reliance en Mooresville y Winston-Salem, incluida la instalación de Winston-Salem. Carter Bank pagará una prima del 4.6% sobre el saldo promedio de los depósitos de las cuentas transaccionales, pero no adquirirá préstamos.

Tras la finalización de la transacción, que se espera para la primera mitad de 2025, Carter Bank operará 66 ubicaciones en Virginia y Carolina del Norte. Los depósitos de Mooresville se transferirán a la sucursal existente de Carter Bank. Este movimiento refuerza la presencia de Carter Bank en Carolina del Norte, particularmente entre Greensboro y Charlotte, mientras permite que First Reliance se concentre en sus mercados clave en Carolina del Sur.

카터은행 (NASDAQ:CARE)는 퍼스트 릴라이언스 뱅크로부터 북캐롤라이나의 두 지점을 전략적으로 인수한다고 발표했다. 이 거래는 카터은행이 무어즈빌과 윈스턴세일럼에 있는 퍼스트 릴라이언스의 지점에서 예금과 자산을 인수하는 것을 포함하며, 윈스턴세일럼 시설도 포함된다. 카터은행은 거래 계좌의 평균 잔고에 대해 4.6%의 예금 프리미엄을 지급하겠지만, 대출은 인수하지 않는다.

거래가 2025년 상반기에 완료될 것으로 예상되며, 카터은행은 버지니아와 북캐롤라이나 전역에서 66개의 지점을 운영하게 된다. 무어즈빌의 예금은 카터은행의 기존 지점으로 이관된다. 이 조치는 카터은행의 북캐롤라이나 내 존재감을 강화하며, 특히 그린스보로와 샬럿 사이에서 더욱 확고히 하며, 퍼스트 릴라이언스가 사우스 캐롤라이나의 핵심 시장에 집중할 수 있도록 한다.

Carter Bank (NASDAQ:CARE) a annoncé une acquisition stratégique de deux agences en Caroline du Nord auprès de First Reliance Bank. La transaction implique que Carter Bank acquière des dépôts et des actifs des agences de First Reliance à Mooresville et Winston-Salem, y compris l'établissement de Winston-Salem. Carter Bank paiera une prime de 4,6 % sur le solde moyen des comptes de transaction, mais n'acquerra aucun prêt.

À la suite de l'achèvement de la transaction, prévu au premier semestre 2025, Carter Bank exploitera 66 agences dans les États de Virginie et de Caroline du Nord. Les dépôts de Mooresville seront transférés vers l'agence existante de Carter Bank. Cette démarche renforce la présence de Carter Bank en Caroline du Nord, notamment entre Greensboro et Charlotte, tout en permettant à First Reliance de se concentrer sur ses marchés clés en Caroline du Sud.

Carter Bank (NASDAQ:CARE) hat eine strategische Akquisition von zwei Filialen in North Carolina von First Reliance Bank angekündigt. Die Transaktion umfasst die Übernahme von Einlagen und Vermögenswerten aus den Filialen von First Reliance in Mooresville und Winston-Salem, einschließlich der Einrichtung in Winston-Salem. Carter Bank wird einen Einlagenaufschlag von 4,6 % auf den durchschnittlichen Endsaldo der Transaktionskonten zahlen, jedoch keine Kredite übernehmen.

Nach Abschluss der Transaktion, die in der ersten Hälfte des Jahres 2025 erwartet wird, wird Carter Bank 66 Standorte in Virginia und North Carolina betreiben. Die Einlagen aus Mooresville werden auf die bestehende Filiale von Carter Bank übertragen. Dieser Schritt stärkt die Präsenz von Carter Bank in North Carolina, insbesondere zwischen Greensboro und Charlotte, während First Reliance sich auf seine Kernmärkte in South Carolina konzentrieren kann.

Positive
  • Expansion of market presence in North Carolina with two additional branches
  • Expected improvement in profitability and shareholder returns
  • Strategic consolidation in Winston-Salem market
  • No loan portfolio acquisition, reducing risk exposure
Negative
  • 4.6% premium payment required on deposit accounts

Insights

This branch acquisition represents a strategic expansion for Carter Bank in North Carolina's key markets. The 4.6% deposit premium indicates a reasonable valuation for the transaction. The deal structure is particularly efficient as it excludes loan assets, minimizing potential credit risk exposure while securing valuable deposit relationships. The consolidation of Mooresville operations into Carter's existing branch demonstrates cost-efficiency focus.

The transaction will immediately boost Carter Bank's deposit base and market presence in the attractive Winston-Salem and Charlotte corridors. For a bank with a 437M market cap, this targeted expansion could meaningfully contribute to earnings through increased scale and operational leverage. The expected closing in H1 2025 provides adequate time for integration planning and regulatory approvals.

This deal aligns with broader banking industry trends of strategic market consolidation and branch network optimization. The Winston-Salem-Charlotte corridor represents a high-growth market with strong demographic trends and business activity. First Reliance's exit from North Carolina to focus on South Carolina demonstrates the increasing importance of market density and operational efficiency in regional banking.

The transaction strengthens Carter Bank's competitive position by expanding its footprint to 66 branches. The focus on deposit acquisition without loans indicates a strategic emphasis on gathering stable funding sources in attractive markets. The retention of branch staff should help maintain existing customer relationships and minimize transition risks.

MARTINSVILLE, VA and FLORENCE, SC / ACCESSWIRE / December 10, 2024 / Carter Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:CARE) and First Reliance Bancshares, Inc. (OTC PINK:FSRL), announced today that their wholly owned subsidiaries, Carter Bank and First Reliance Bank, entered into a definitive Purchase and Assumption Agreement (the "Agreement") under which Carter Bank will acquire deposits associated with First Reliance Bank's two branches in Mooresville and Winston-Salem, as well as First Reliance Bank's Winston-Salem branch facility (the "Transaction").

The Transaction allows First Reliance Bank to focus on its core markets in South Carolina as well as advance the organization's branch efficiency strategy. Of First Reliance Bank's entire branch network, these two locations were the only two locations situated outside of South Carolina. For Carter Bank, the Transaction represents further expansion into Winston-Salem and continued growth in the Charlotte area. Following the closing of the Transaction, Carter Bank will operate 66 locations in its branch network throughout Virginia and North Carolina.

Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, Carter Bank has agreed to assume certain deposit liabilities, and acquire cash, personal property and other fixed assets associated with the Winston-Salem branch. Additionally, Carter Bank plans on transferring the deposits acquired from the First Reliance Bank branch in Mooresville to its existing Mooresville branch. Carter Bank will pay a 4.6% deposit premium on the average closing balance of the sum of non-interest and interest-bearing transaction accounts, savings, and money market demand deposits, but will not acquire any loans in the Transaction. Subject to obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals, the Transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2025. Customers of these branches will receive additional information regarding the Transaction in the coming months.

Management Commentary

Litz H. Van Dyke, Chief Executive Officer of Carter Bank, stated, "We are excited to announce a branch purchase agreement with First Reliance Bank that will enhance Carter Bank's overall growth. This transaction strengthens our presence, deepens our commitment to North Carolina, and further expands our network between Greensboro and Charlotte. We see this as a crucial step in optimizing our operations in Winston-Salem, as it gives us an immediate presence in the market, and we are gaining further market share in Mooresville. We believe that the Transaction will improve our profitability and deliver exceptional returns to our shareholders. We are looking forward to welcoming the First Reliance Bank customers and branch associates to Carter Bank."

Rick Saunders, Chief Executive Officer of First Reliance Bank stated, "I am pleased to announce an agreement that I believe will benefit all parties involved. Carter Bank is gaining two teams with strong connections to the communities they serve, which will bring significant value to the organization. By streamlining our focus to our core South Carolina market, I anticipate that our associates and shareholders will benefit from improved efficiencies, and the growth trajectory of First Reliance Bank will be enhanced."

Raymond James & Associates, Inc. acted as financial advisor to Carter Bank, and Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP acted as its legal advisor in the Transaction. Hovde Group, LLC acted as financial advisor to First Reliance Bank and Ward and Smith, P.A. acted as its legal advisor in the Transaction.

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Media Contacts:

Carter Bank:
Brooks Taylor
VP, Corporate Communications Officer
Phone: 276-806-5445
Email: brooks.taylor@carterbank.com

First Reliance:
Robert Haile
Chief Financial Officer, Senior Executive Vice President
Phone: 843-674-3251
Email: rhaile@firstreliance.com

About Carter Bankshares, Inc.

Carter Bankshares, Inc. is a bank holding company and the parent company of Carter Bank, a state-chartered community bank headquartered in Martinsville Virginia, with $4.6 billion in total assets as of September 30, 2024. Carter Bank operates 65 branches in Virginia and North Carolina and offers a full range of deposit and loan products. Since 1974, Carter Bank has strived to create opportunities for more people and businesses to prosper.

About First Reliance Bancshares, Inc

Founded in 1999, First Reliance Bancshares, Inc. is a bank holding company and the parent company of First Reliance Bank, a state-chartered bank based in Florence, South Carolina with total assets of $1.1 billion as of September 30, 2024. First Reliance Bank employs approximately 170 professionals and offers a full range of personalized community banking products and services for individuals, small businesses, and corporations.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein are "forward looking statements" within the meaning of federal and state securities laws, including Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by use of the words "believe," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "estimate," "project," "pro forma," or similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs, such as "will," "would," "should," "could," or "may." These forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and expectations of Carter Bank's management or First Reliance Bank's management, respectively, which each management team believes to be reasonable as of the date of this press release. These forward-looking statements are inherently subject to significant business, economic, regulatory and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of Carter Bank or First Reliance Bank. In addition, these forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions with respect to future business strategies and decisions that are subject to change. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in or implied by the forward-looking statements as a result of numerous factors, and depend on the Carter Bank's and First Reliance Bank's ability to close the Transaction in a timely manner and to realize the anticipated benefits of the Transaction. For a discussion of factors that may impact forward-looking statements by Carter Bank, please see the most recent reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q filed by Carter Bankshares, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

The Transaction is subject to regulatory approval and other conditions. The actual amount of deposits that are acquired under Agreement is subject to change prior to closing. Targeted financial benefits are subject to significant uncertainty, and Carter Bank's expected benefits of the Transaction may be affected or offset by other conditions related to Carter Bank's operation. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect expectations only as of the date of this release. Neither Carter Bank nor First Reliance Bank undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as otherwise required by law.

SOURCE: Carter Bankshares, Inc.



View the original press release on accesswire.com

FAQ

What is the deposit premium Carter Bank (CARE) will pay in the First Reliance branch acquisition?

Carter Bank will pay a 4.6% deposit premium on the average closing balance of non-interest and interest-bearing transaction accounts, savings, and money market demand deposits.

When is the Carter Bank (CARE) branch acquisition expected to close?

The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2025, subject to regulatory approvals.

How many branches will Carter Bank (CARE) operate after the acquisition?

Following the transaction, Carter Bank will operate 66 locations throughout Virginia and North Carolina.

Which First Reliance branches is Carter Bank (CARE) acquiring?

Carter Bank is acquiring First Reliance Bank's branches in Mooresville and Winston-Salem, North Carolina, including the Winston-Salem facility.

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