Equity Bancshares (NYSE:EQBK) finalized its merger with Frontier Holdings, the parent company of Frontier Bank, effective January 1, 2026.
The completion of the deal marks a significant geographic milestone for the Wichita-based lender, providing its first physical presence in Nebraska with seven new full-service locations in Omaha and Lincoln.
The all-stock and cash transaction, valued at approximately $122.8 million at the time of its September 2025 announcement, bolsters Equity’s pro forma consolidated assets to roughly $7.9 billion.
Frontier’s locations began operating under the Equity Bank brand on January 2, 2026, with the company planning to fully consolidate core and digital banking systems by February.
With the addition of Nebraska, Equity’s footprint now covers six states, including Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and a loan production office in Iowa.
The merger is expected to be roughly 7.7% accretive to Equity’s 2026 earnings per share, as the bank looks to deploy Frontier's $1.1 billion in deposits into high-yield lending opportunities throughout its regional network.