Valley National Bancorp to Acquire Bluevine Inc., Accelerating Its Digital Small Business Growth Strategy and Meaningfully Enhancing Its Core Funding Capabilities
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Rhea-AI Summary
Valley National Bancorp (VLY) agreed to acquire Bluevine for approximately $340 million, adding a digital small-business banking platform. Bluevine has $2.1 billion in low-cost, digitally sourced deposits and served approximately 175,000 active small-business customers as of June 2026. Consideration is expected to be approximately 75% cash and 25% Valley common stock, subject to agreement terms and customary adjustments.
Including expected synergies, Valley expects approximately 8% accretion to estimated 2028 earnings per share. It also expects approximately 5% tangible book value dilution at closing, with an estimated earn-back period of approximately 3 years. The acquisition is expected to close in early 2027, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary conditions. Bluevine’s platform-generated deposits grew at an approximately 35% compound annual rate from 2023 through the second quarter of 2026.
Positive
- Bluevine acquisition would add a digital small-business platform and $2.1 billion in low-cost, digitally sourced deposits.
- Approximately 175,000 active small-business customers were served by Bluevine as of June 2026.
- Platform-generated deposits grew at an approximately 35% compound annual rate from 2023 through the second quarter of 2026.
- Approximately 99% of platform-generated deposits are currently from non-borrowing customers.
- Approximately 8% accretion to estimated 2028 earnings per share is expected, including expected synergies.
- Approximately 180 research and development professionals and engineers would join Valley through the acquisition.
Negative
- Approximately $340 million in total consideration is expected for the acquisition, including an approximately 75% cash component.
- Approximately 25% Valley common stock in the expected consideration would dilute existing shareholders.
- Approximately 5% tangible book value dilution is expected at closing, with an estimated earn-back period of approximately 3 years.
- Regulatory approvals and other customary conditions remain before the expected early 2027 closing.
News Explained
About 99% of Bluevine’s deposits currently come from customers who do not borrow from it; Valley says the deposits would provide a diversified source of core funding if the agreed acquisition closes.
Details
News Market Reaction – VLY
On Sep 28, the day this news came out, VLY closed 2.29% below the previous close. Our momentum scanner recorded 2 alerts for this stock that day. That session’s volume was 1.8x the stock’s average daily volume.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the Sep 28 session.
Key Figures
- Total consideration
- Approximately $340 million
- Proposed Bluevine acquisition
- Consideration mix
- Approximately 75% cash and 25% Valley common stock
- Subject to the definitive agreement and customary adjustments
- Estimated EPS accretion
- Approximately 8%
- 2028 estimate, inclusive of expected synergies
- Tangible book value dilution
- Approximately 5%
- Expected at closing
- Earn-back period
- Approximately 3 years
- Estimated period for tangible book value dilution
- Expected closing
- Early 2027
- Subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions
- Digitally sourced deposits
- $2.1 billion
- Deposits Bluevine brings to Valley
- Platform-generated deposit growth
- Approximately 35% compound annual growth rate
- 2023 through the second quarter of 2026
Historical Context
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Valley launched Valley Foundry to advance AI, data, cybersecurity and technology initiatives.
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Key Terms
compound annual growth rate financial
tangible book value financial
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
NEW YORK, N.Y. and JERSEY CITY, N.J., Sept. 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Valley National Bancorp (“Valley”) (NASDAQ: VLY) and Bluevine Inc. (“Bluevine”) announced today that they have entered into a definitive agreement whereby Valley will acquire Bluevine, a leading nationwide digital banking platform for small businesses.
The acquisition directly aligns with Valley’s stated strategic priorities of enhancing its funding base, expanding its small business franchise, and accelerating its digital and artificial intelligence (“AI”) strategy. Bluevine will bring Valley a scaled, high-growth digital small business platform;
Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey, Bluevine serves approximately 175,000 active small business customers and was voted 2026 Best Overall Small Business Bank by Money.com and 2026 Best Online Business Checking Account by NerdWallet. Bluevine has demonstrated momentum in building small business operating relationships, with platform-generated deposits increasing at an approximately
The transaction adds a nationwide digital acquisition channel to complement Valley’s long-standing relationship-led banking model. By gaining access to Valley’s branch network and broader treasury management, credit, insurance, wealth and capital markets solutions, Bluevine customers will benefit from a more holistic value proposition as clients of the combined organization. Valley’s existing small business customers will benefit from Bluevine’s industry-leading digital platform which combines business checking, payments, bill pay, invoicing, lending and financial-management capabilities in a unified experience for small businesses.
The acquisition will also accelerate Valley’s technology and AI strategy by adding approximately 180 research and development professionals and engineers, primarily located in established technology hubs like Redwood City, California; Jersey City, New Jersey; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Tel Aviv, Israel. Bluevine brings a highly capable engineering culture, modern technology architecture, and meaningful experience applying data and AI solutions to small business workflows. Owning these capabilities will give Valley greater control over its customer experience, more speed in bringing solutions to market, and a durable foundation for further innovation beyond Bluevine’s legacy small business focus areas.
Under the terms of the proposed transaction, Valley will acquire Bluevine for total consideration of approximately
Ira Robbins, Valley’s Chairman, President & CEO commented that, “The acquisition of Bluevine directly advances the strategic priorities we have previously communicated to our shareholders. It is expected to enhance our core funding capabilities, add a proven small business growth platform and meaningfully accelerate our digital and AI capabilities. Bluevine has built an impressive franchise which has generated a diversified base of small business operating deposit relationships, a highly engaged customer community and a modern technology platform purpose-built for the needs of small businesses.” He also stated, “By combining Valley’s balance sheet and product capabilities with Bluevine’s digital platform and customer-acquisition engine, we can accelerate our aspiration to be the bank of choice for small businesses across the country. The combination also creates a compelling cross-sell opportunity to further deepen the scope of the current banking relationships across both Valley and Bluevine customer bases by delivering a broader set of products and an enhanced customer experience.”
Eyal Lifshitz, Co-Founder & CEO of Bluevine said, “Bluevine was founded to give small business owners the financial tools and digital experience they need to manage and grow their businesses. Valley shares that commitment and brings the balance sheet capacity, relationship banking expertise and broader capabilities necessary to support our customers through every stage of their journey. Together, we will be able to expand our impact while preserving the technology, customer focus and entrepreneurial culture that have driven Bluevine’s success. We look forward to joining Valley and continuing to enhance our small business banking platform.” Following the transaction close, Mr. Lifshitz will join Valley as Head of Small Business Banking.
The acquisition is expected to close in early 2027, subject to standard regulatory approvals, and the satisfaction or waiver of other customary closing conditions. An investor presentation with additional information about the transaction can be found on Valley’s website at www.valley.com.
Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. is serving as financial advisor to Valley and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is serving as legal counsel to Valley. Financial Technology Partners acted as the exclusive advisor to Bluevine and its Board of Directors in the sale to Valley. Sidley Austin LLP served as legal counsel to Bluevine.
Investor Conference Call
Valley executives will host a conference call at 8:30 AM Eastern Standard Time today to discuss this transaction. Those wishing to participate should pre-register using this link: https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BIecb95d105ce54ea584b76feeda2143b3 to receive the dial-in number and a personal PIN, which are required to access the conference call. The teleconference will also be webcast live at: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/udw2c42h.
About Valley
As the principal subsidiary of Valley National Bancorp (NASDAQ: VLY), Valley National Bank is a regional financial institution with over
About Bluevine
Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey, Bluevine provides an integrated suite of digital banking, payments, lending and financial-management solutions designed for small businesses. As of June 2026, Bluevine served approximately 175,000 active small business customers and had served more than 415,000 businesses since inception. Visit www.bluevine.com for more information.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The foregoing contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are not historical facts and include expressions about management’s confidence and strategies and management’s expectations about our business, new and existing programs and products, acquisitions, relationships, opportunities, taxation, technology, market conditions and economic expectations. These statements may be identified by forward-looking terminology such as “intend,” “should,” “expect,” “believe,” “position,” “view,” “opportunity,” “allow,” “continues,” “reflects,” “would,” “could,” “typically,” “usually,” “anticipate,” “may,” “estimate,” “outlook,” “project” or similar statements or variations of such terms. Such forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements. A detailed discussion of factors that could affect our results is included in our SEC filings, including Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025. We undertake no duty to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in our expectations, except as required by law. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements.
| Contacts: | ||
| Valley National Bancorp | Bluevine Inc. | |
| Travis Lan | Eyal Lifshitz | |
| Senior Executive Vice President and | Co-Founder and | |
| Chief Financial Officer | Chief Executive Officer | |
| 973-686-5007 | 203-535-7170 | |
FAQ
AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
How much will Valley National Bancorp pay for Bluevine?
Total consideration is approximately $340 million. It is expected to consist of approximately 75% cash and 25% Valley common stock, subject to the definitive agreement’s terms and customary adjustments.
When is Valley National Bancorp’s Bluevine acquisition expected to close?
The acquisition is expected to close in early 2027, subject to standard regulatory approvals and the satisfaction or waiver of other customary closing conditions.
Who will lead small-business banking at Valley National Bancorp after the Bluevine acquisition?
Bluevine co-founder and CEO Eyal Lifshitz will join Valley as Head of Small Business Banking following the transaction close.