Civista Bancshares Completes Merger with The Farmers Savings Bank, Expanding Community Banking Footprint in Northeast Ohio

Rhea-AI Summary

Civista Bancshares (NASDAQ: CIVB) completed its merger with The Farmers Savings Bank on November 6, 2025, expanding Civista's community banking footprint into Medina and Lorain counties.

The deal adds two branches and approximately $236 million in low-cost deposits. As of September 30, 2025, the combined organization will have about $4.4 billion in total assets, $3.2 billion in net loans, and $3.5 billion in total deposits. The Farmers Savings Bank will continue current services until a system conversion in Q1 2026.

Positive

• $236 million in added low-cost deposits
• Combined total assets of approximately $4.4 billion as of Sep 30, 2025
• Combined net loans of approximately $3.2 billion as of Sep 30, 2025
• Expansion into Medina and Lorain counties with two new branches

Negative

• System conversion scheduled for Q1 2026 creates short-term operational transition risk

Insights

Community banking strategist

Merger expands Civista’s Ohio footprint, adds low-cost deposits and increases scale ahead of a Q1 2026 system conversion.

Civista Bancshares completed a merger with The Farmers Savings Bank, adding two branches and approximately $236 million in low-cost deposits. The combined franchise reports about $4.4 billion in total assets, $3.2 billion in net loans, and $3.5 billion in total deposits as of September 30, 2025.

The business mechanism is straightforward: the transaction increases local market share in Medina and Lorain Counties and strengthens the deposit base that management intends to deploy into commercial lending and liquidity management. Key dependencies include successful operational integration and customer retention during the planned system conversion in Q1 2026. Watch the conversion timeline, deposit retention rates, and near-term loan deployment; these metrics will show whether the stated benefits materialize within the first year after conversion.

SANDUSKY, Ohio, Nov. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Civista Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: CIVB), the parent company of Civista Bank, today announced the successful completion of its merger with The Farmers Savings Bank, a community-focused institution headquartered in Spencer, Ohio. The transaction marks a strategic expansion for Civista into Medina and Lorain Counties, reinforcing its commitment to serving Ohio's communities with personalized banking solutions.

The merger adds two new branches and approximately $236 million in low-cost deposits to Civista's portfolio. Based on financial data as of September 30, 2025, the combined organization will have approximately $4.4 billion in total assets, $3.2 billion in net loans, and $3.5 billion in total deposits.

"This merger represents a significant step forward in our mission to deliver exceptional community banking services," said Dennis G. Shaffer, President and CEO of Civista Bancshares. "We are thrilled to welcome Farmers Savings Bank into the Civista family. Together, we will leverage our combined strengths to enhance commercial lending capabilities, deploy excess liquidity, and deepen relationships in Northeast Ohio, and across the Civista footprint."

Tom Lee, President and CEO of The Farmers Savings Bank, added, "Joining Civista allows us to continue our legacy of community-focused banking while gaining access to expanded resources and expertise. Our customers will benefit from enhanced services and a broader network, all while maintaining the personal touch they've come to expect."

The system conversion is scheduled for the first quarter of 2026. Until then, Farmers Savings Bank customers will continue to access services as usual, with updates and support provided throughout the transition.

About Civista Bancshares:
Civista Bancshares, Inc., is a $4.4 billion financial holding company headquartered in Sandusky, Ohio. Its primary subsidiary, Civista Bank, was founded in 1884 and provides full-service banking, commercial lending, mortgage, and wealth management services. Today, Civista Bank operates 44 locations across Ohio, Southeastern Indiana and Northern Kentucky. Civista Bank also offers commercial equipment leasing services for businesses nationwide through its Civista Leasing and Finance Division. Civista Bancshares' common shares are traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol "CIVB". Learn more at www.civb.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/civista-bancshares-completes-merger-with-the-farmers-savings-bank-expanding-community-banking-footprint-in-northeast-ohio-302607485.html

SOURCE Civista Bancshares, Inc.

FAQ

What did Civista Bancshares (CIVB) announce on November 6, 2025?

Civista completed its merger with The Farmers Savings Bank, expanding into Medina and Lorain counties and adding two branches.

How much in deposits did the Farmers Savings Bank add to Civista (CIVB)?

The merger added approximately $236 million in low-cost deposits to Civista's portfolio.

What are the combined assets and loans for Civista after the merger (CIVB)?

As of September 30, 2025, the combined organization has about $4.4 billion in total assets and $3.2 billion in net loans.

When will Farmers Savings Bank customers be migrated to Civista systems for CIVB?

The system conversion is scheduled for the first quarter of 2026; customers will continue using current services until then.

How will the merger affect Civista's branch network and local presence (CIVB)?

The deal adds two branches and strengthens Civista's presence in Northeast Ohio, including Medina and Lorain counties.