PNC Announces Agreement to Acquire FirstBank, Significantly Growing its Presence in Colorado and Arizona
Rhea-AI Summary
PNC Financial Services (NYSE: PNC) has announced a definitive agreement to acquire FirstBank Holding Company in a transaction valued at $4.1 billion. FirstBank, with $26.8 billion in assets, operates 95 branches across Colorado and Arizona.
The strategic acquisition will significantly strengthen PNC's presence in these high-growth markets, making Colorado one of PNC's top markets nationwide. The deal will triple PNC's branch network in Colorado to 120 locations and establish PNC as the #1 bank in Denver with 20% retail deposit share. In Arizona, PNC will expand to over 70 branches.
The transaction, expected to close in early 2026, includes approximately 13.9 million shares of PNC common stock and $1.2 billion in cash. FirstBank's CEO Kevin Classen will become PNC's Colorado Regional President and Mountain Territory Executive, with PNC retaining all FirstBank branches and customer-facing teams.
Positive
- Significant market expansion with FirstBank's $26.8B in assets and 95 branches
- Achievement of #1 position in Denver with 20% retail deposit share
- Triple branch presence in Colorado to 120 locations
- Retention of all FirstBank branches and customer-facing teams ensuring business continuity
- Strategic entry into high-growth markets of Colorado and Arizona
Negative
- Substantial capital deployment of $4.1B for acquisition
- Integration risks with merging FirstBank's operations and systems
- Potential shareholder dilution from issuance of 13.9M new PNC shares
News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, PNC declined 0.31%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Acquisition bolsters PNC's national presence in high-growth markets
FirstBank, with
The combination will propel
"FirstBank is the standout branch banking franchise in
The addition of FirstBank is part of PNC's strategy to scale its franchise through organic growth and strategic acquisition. Over the last decade, PNC has consistently achieved double-digit revenue growth in new and acquired markets, bringing the best of PNC's people, products, and services to customers, including significant investments in branch expansion, marketing and technology.
FirstBank has a multi-generational commitment to supporting the communities in which it serves, including its sponsorship of Colorado Gives Day, which has raised over
Over the last three years, PNC's Community Benefits Plan (CBP) has deployed more than
"For decades, FirstBank has been proud to serve
FirstBank's straightforward, community-based model—anchored by regional leaders in local markets—mirrors PNC's local approach to banking and will allow PNC to bring all the capabilities of a large national bank to FirstBank's clients. PNC will honor FirstBank's legacy, delivering an outstanding experience for customers and communities in
Kevin Classen will become PNC's
The boards of directors of both PNC and FirstBank Holding Company have approved the transaction, which is expected to close in early 2026 subject to receipt of all required approvals and other customary closing conditions. FirstBank Holding Company's shareholders holding or having control or direction over approximately
Under the terms of the agreement, FirstBank stockholders will be entitled to elect to receive the merger consideration in PNC common stock or in cash, subject to certain limitations. The aggregate consideration is comprised of a fixed number of approximately 13.9 million shares of PNC common stock and
Advisors
Wells Fargo is serving as financial advisor to PNC. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is serving as legal advisor to PNC.
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC are serving as co-financial advisors to FirstBank and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP is serving as lead legal advisor.
About FirstBank
FirstBank began providing banking services in 1963. Today, it's known as an industry leader in digital banking. It has grown to be one of the top-performing and largest privately held banks in
About PNC
The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in
CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This communication contains statements regarding PNC; FirstBank; the proposed transaction between PNC and FirstBank; future financial and operating results; benefits and synergies of the transaction; future opportunities for PNC; the issuance of common stock of PNC contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among PNC, FirstBank and Summit Merger Sub I, Inc. (the "Merger Agreement"); the expected filing by PNC with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") of a registration statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement") and a prospectus of PNC and a proxy statement of FirstBank to be included therein (the "Proxy Statement/Prospectus"); the expected timing of the closing of the proposed transaction; the ability of the parties to complete the proposed transaction considering the various closing conditions and any other statements about future expectations that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. From time to time, oral or written forward-looking statements may also be included in other information released to the public. Such forward-looking statements are typically, but not exclusively, identified by the use in the statements of words or phrases such as "aim," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "goal," "guidance," "intend," "is anticipated," "is expected," "is intended," "objective," "plan," "projected," "projection," "will affect," "will be," "will continue," "will decrease," "will grow," "will impact," "will increase," "will incur," "will reduce," "will remain," "will result," "would be," variations of such words or phrases (including where the word "could," "may," or "would" is used rather than the word "will" in a phrase) and similar words and phrases indicating that the statement addresses some future result, occurrence, plan or objective. Forward-looking statements include all statements other than statements of historical fact, including forecasts or trends, and are based on current expectations, assumptions, estimates, and projections about PNC and its subsidiaries or related to the proposed transaction and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed in such statements.
These forward-looking statements may include information about PNC's possible or assumed future economic performance or future results of operations, including future revenues, income, expenses, provision for loan losses, provision for taxes, effective tax rate, earnings per share and cash flows and PNC's future capital expenditures and dividends, future financial condition and changes therein, including changes in PNC's loan portfolio and allowance for loan losses, future capital structure or changes therein, as well as the plans and objectives of management for PNC's future operations, future or proposed acquisitions, the future or expected effect of acquisitions on PNC's operations, results of operations, financial condition, and future economic performance, statements about the anticipated benefits of each of the proposed transactions, and statements about the assumptions underlying any such statement.
These forward‑looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are based on expectations and assumptions PNC currently believes to be valid. Because forward-looking statements relate to future results and occurrences, many of which are outside of PNC's control, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Many possible events or factors could adversely affect the future financial results and performance of PNC, FirstBank or the combined company and could cause those results or performance to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others: (1) the risk that the cost savings and synergies from the transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer than anticipated to be realized, (2) disruption to PNC's business and to FirstBank's business as a result of the announcement and pendency of the transaction, (3) the risk that the integration of FirstBank's business and operations into PNC, will be materially delayed or will be more costly or difficult than expected, or that PNC is otherwise unable to successfully integrate FirstBank's business into its own, including as a result of unexpected factors or events, (4) the failure to obtain the necessary approval by the shareholders of FirstBank, (5) the ability by each of PNC and FirstBank to obtain required governmental approvals of the transaction on the timeline expected, or at all, and the risk that such approvals may result in the imposition of conditions that could adversely affect PNC after the closing of the transaction or adversely affect the expected benefits of the transaction, (6) reputational risk and the reaction of each company's customers, suppliers, employees or other business partners to the transaction, (7) the failure of the closing conditions in the Merger Agreement to be satisfied, or any unexpected delay in closing the transaction or the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement, (8) the dilution caused by the issuance of additional shares of PNC's common stock in the transaction, (9) the possibility that the transaction may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events, (10) the outcome of any legal or regulatory proceedings that may be currently pending or later instituted against PNC before or after the transaction, or against FirstBank, (11) diversion of management's attention from ongoing business operations and (12) general competitive, economic, political and market conditions and other factors that may affect future results of PNC and FirstBank. PNC disclaims any obligation to update such factors or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements included herein to reflect future events or developments. These and various other factors are discussed in PNC's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K, in each case filed with the SEC, and other reports and statements PNC has filed with the SEC. Copies of the SEC filings for PNC may be downloaded from the Internet at no charge from https://investor.pnc.com.
Additional Information about the Transaction and Where to Find It
PNC intends to file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 to register the shares of PNC common stock to be issued to the shareholders of FirstBank in connection with the proposed transaction. The Registration Statement will include a Proxy Statement/Prospectus which will be sent to the shareholders of FirstBank in connection with the proposed transaction.
INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4, THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS INCLUDED WITHIN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4 AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THE PROXY/STATEMENT PROSPECTUS, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THESE DOCUMENTS, CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY, WHEN THEY ARE AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT PNC, FIRSTBANK AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION.
Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of these documents through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. You will also be able to obtain these documents, when they are filed, free of charge, from PNC at https://investor.pnc.com. Copies of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus can also be obtained, when it becomes available, free of charge, by directing a request by telephone or mail to The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., The Tower at PNC Plaza, 300 Fifth Avenue
No Offer or Solicitation
This communication is for informational purposes only and is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to subscribe for, buy or sell, or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for, buy or sell, or an invitation to subscribe for, buy or sell any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, invitation, sale or solicitation would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act, and otherwise in accordance with applicable law.
1 Source: SNL Financial. Deposits per branch capped at
CONTACTS
MEDIA:
PNC
Anne Pace
(631) 338-3268
anne.pace@pnc.com
FirstBank
Chandra Brin
(303) 235-1402
chandra.brin@efirstbank.com
INVESTORS:
PNC
Bryan Gill
(412) 768-4143
investor.relations@pnc.com
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SOURCE The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
FAQ
What is the value of PNC's acquisition of FirstBank?
How many branches will PNC gain from the FirstBank acquisition?
What market share will PNC have in Denver after acquiring FirstBank?
When is the PNC-FirstBank acquisition expected to close?
Who will lead PNC's operations in Colorado after the FirstBank acquisition?
What is the size of FirstBank's assets being acquired by PNC?
