Investar Holding Corporation Announces Completion of Wichita Falls Bancshares, Inc. Acquisition
Rhea-AI Summary
Investar Holding Corporation (Nasdaq: ISTR) completed its acquisition of Wichita Falls Bancshares, the holding company for First National Bank, effective January 1, 2026. Consideration was $7.2 million cash plus 3,955,334 shares of Investar common stock, for an aggregate transaction value of approximately $112.9 million based on the December 31, 2025 closing share price of $26.72. At closing, First National Bank reported $1.2 billion in total assets, $1.0 billion in net loans, and $1.0 billion in total deposits. Two former Wichita Falls directors, David Flack and James Dunkerley, joined the Company and Bank boards. Janney Montgomery Scott and Olsen Palmer served as financial advisors; Fenimore Kay Harrison and Bradley Arant served as legal counsel.
Positive
- Transaction adds $1.2 billion in total assets
- Adds $1.0 billion in net loans to Investar
- Adds $1.0 billion in total deposits
- Transaction value of approximately $112.9 million
- Board strengthened with two regional directors appointed
Negative
- Issued 3,955,334 shares as merger consideration
- Paid $7.2 million in cash as part of the deal
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
Peers in regional banking showed mixed moves, with names like PVBC up 2.66% and PWOD down 2.76%, suggesting ISTR’s slight -0.67% move was more stock-specific than sector-driven.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 17 | Dividend declaration | Positive | +0.6% | Declared quarterly common and preferred dividends with long payment track record. |
| Oct 30 | Acquisition approvals | Positive | -1.5% | Shareholder and regulatory approvals for Wichita Falls acquisition. |
| Oct 20 | Q3 results update | Positive | +5.1% | Q3 2025 earnings and progress update on Wichita Falls transaction. |
| Sep 17 | Dividend declaration | Positive | +4.4% | Announced 48th consecutive quarterly common dividend and preferred dividend. |
| Jul 21 | Earnings & acquisition | Positive | +1.1% | Q2 2025 results plus announcement of Wichita Falls merger and capital raise. |
Recent news has generally seen positive price alignment, with only one divergence on an earlier Wichita Falls approval headline.
Over the past six months, Investar has focused on steady capital returns and the Wichita Falls Bancshares acquisition. Dividend announcements on Sep 17 and Dec 17, 2025 coincided with modestly positive reactions. Earnings updates on Jul 21 and Oct 20, 2025 highlighted improving margins and a capital raise supporting the Wichita Falls deal. The Oct 30, 2025 approval news drew a small negative move, making today’s closing announcement a continuation of this acquisition timeline.
Regulatory & Risk Context
An effective S-3 shelf registration was on file as of Sep 2, 2025, with no recorded usage to date. This provides the company with pre-cleared capacity to issue securities in the future, but no specific amounts or activations are detailed here.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement confirms closing of the Wichita Falls Bancshares acquisition effective January 1, 2026, adding roughly $1.2 billion in assets and $1.0 billion each in loans and deposits. It follows prior approvals and capital raises tied to the deal. Investors may focus on post-merger integration, realized cost and revenue synergies, and how combined-balance-sheet metrics evolve versus those disclosed in recent quarterly and regulatory filings.
Key Terms
agreement and plan of merger regulatory
merger consideration financial
net loans financial
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
BATON ROUGE, LA / ACCESS Newswire / January 2, 2026 / Investar Holding Corporation (the "Company") (Nasdaq:ISTR), the holding company of Investar Bank, National Association (the "Bank"), today announced the completion of its acquisition of Wichita Falls Bancshares, Inc. ("Wichita Falls"), the holding company for First National Bank ("FNB") headquartered in Wichita Falls, Texas. An Agreement and Plan of Merger relating to the acquisition was previously announced in July 2025.
The acquisition became effective as of January 1, 2026. All of the issued and outstanding shares of Wichita Falls common stock were converted into aggregate merger consideration consisting of
John D'Angelo, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Investar is excited to expand our footprint into the north Dallas and Wichita Falls markets through the acquisition of First National Bank. This transaction represents the continued execution of our multi-state expansion strategy combining two community banks with a history of service, an alignment of culture, and a common commitment to enhancing shareholder value. We are excited about this partnership and look forward to welcoming First National Bank's customers, shareholders and employees to the Investar family.
Additionally, we are pleased to welcome Dave Flack and Jim Dunkerley to the Board of Directors. We are confident their extensive experience and strong relationships in the north Dallas and Wichita Falls markets will strengthen the quality of our board and add value to our organization."
At December 31, 2025, FNB had
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC acted as financial advisor, and Fenimore Kay Harrison LLP served as legal counsel, to the Company on the merger transaction. Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP served as legal counsel, and Olsen Palmer LLC served as financial advisor, to Wichita Falls.
About Investar Holding Corporation
Investar Holding Corporation, headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, provides full banking services, excluding trust services, through its wholly-owned banking subsidiary, Investar Bank, National Association. The Bank currently operates 29 branch locations serving Louisiana, Texas, and Alabama. At September 30, 2025, the Bank had 326 full-time equivalent employees and total assets of
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may include forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations and assumptions about our business that are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those described in this press release. You should not rely on forward-looking statements as a prediction of future events. Additional information regarding factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in any forward-looking statements are described in reports and registration statements we file with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, copies of which are available on the Investar website at www.investarbank.com.
We disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances upon which any forward-looking statement may be based except as required by law.
Contact:
Investar Holding Corporation
John R. Campbell
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(225) 227-2215
John.Campbell@investarbank.com
SOURCE: Investar Holding Corporation
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
FAQ
When did Investar (ISTR) complete the Wichita Falls Bancshares acquisition?
What was the total transaction value for Investar's purchase of Wichita Falls (ISTR)?
How was the Wichita Falls acquisition paid for by Investar (ISTR)?
What assets and deposits did First National Bank add to Investar (ISTR)?
Did Investar (ISTR) add any board members after the Wichita Falls acquisition?
Who advised Investar (ISTR) on the Wichita Falls merger?
