Filed
by Versa Bancorp
pursuant
to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933
Subject
Company: VersaBank
Commission File No.: 001-40805
For Release: July 28, 2026
Attention: Business Editors
VERSABANK CALLS SPECIAL SHAREHOLDER MEETING TO APPROVE
PROPOSED REORGANIZATION
– Bank Expects SEC to Declare Effective
the S-4 Registration Statement for Proposed Reorganization in the Coming Weeks –
LONDON, ON/CNW – VersaBank
(or the “Bank”) (TSX: VBNK; NASDAQ: VBNK), a North American leader in business-to-business digital banking, as well as technology
solutions for cybersecurity, today announced it will hold a special meeting for its shareholders ("the Meeting") to consider
and vote on its proposed plan to realign its corporate structure to a standard U.S. bank framework (the “Reorganization”).
The Meeting will be held in person at 1979 Otter Place, London, Ontario on September 16, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. ET. Shareholders of record
of the Bank at the close of business on August 10, 2026, will be entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Meeting.
The Bank expects its Form S-4 registration
statement in connection with the Reorganization (File No. 333-296444) (the “Registration Statement”), previously filed with
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), to be declared effective by the SEC in the coming weeks, prior to
the Management Information Circular and Prospectus contained therein being mailed to shareholders.
“This marks another major
milestone in our plan to further enhance near- and long-term value for our shareholders through our proposed Reorganization, improving
access to capital to support our growth while providing eligibility for certain U.S. stock indices, as well as further mitigating risk
and reducing corporate costs,” said David Taylor, Founder and President, VersaBank. “In anticipation of shareholder approval
of the proposed Reorganization, in parallel, we are moving forward on any matters that can expedite the subsequent regulatory approval
processes.”
Specifically, the Reorganization,
among other things, will result in Versa Bancorp, a new Delaware corporation (the “Parent”), becoming the direct holding company
of VersaBank and VersaBank USA National Association. The purpose of the Meeting is to obtain shareholder approval to effect the Reorganization
following which Versa Bancorp will succeed VersaBank as the publicly traded company in which existing shareholders hold their equity interests.
The Registration Statement contains a Management Information Circular and Prospectus in connection with the Reorganization. Shareholders
are urged to review the final version of the Management Information Circular and Prospectus, which will be mailed to shareholders and
which contains important information regarding the Meeting and the Reorganization.
In addition to the approval of
shareholders, the completion of the Reorganization remains subject to various regulatory approvals, including approval by the Minister
of Finance in Canada and the Federal Reserve Board in the United States. There can be no assurance that VersaBank will receive
shareholder or regulatory approval in a timely manner, if at all.
ABOUT VERSABANK
VersaBank is a North American bank
with a difference. Federally chartered in both Canada and the U.S., VersaBank has a branchless, digital, business-to-business model based
on its proprietary state-of-the-art technology that enables it to profitably address underserved segments of the banking industry in a
significantly risk mitigated manner. Because VersaBank obtains substantially all of its deposits and undertakes the majority of its funding
activities electronically through financial intermediary partners, it benefits from significant operating leverage that drives efficiency
and return on common equity. In August 2024, VersaBank launched its unique Structured Receivable Program funding solution for point-of-sale
finance companies, which has been highly successful in Canada for over 15 years, to the underserved multi-trillion-dollar U.S. market.
VersaBank also owns Minnesota- based DRT Cyber Inc., a North American leader in the provision of cyber security services to address the
rapidly growing volume of cyber threats challenging financial institutions, multi-national corporations and government entities. Through
DRT Cyber Inc., VersaBank owns proprietary intellectual property and technology to enable the next generation of digital assets for the
banking and financial community, including the Bank’s revolutionary and proprietary Real Bank Tokenized DepositsTM.
VersaBank’s Common Shares trade on the Toronto Stock
Exchange and NASDAQ under the symbol VBNK.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
In connection with the
Reorganization, Parent has filed the Registration Statement. SHAREHOLDERS OF VERSABANK AND OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS ARE ADVISED TO READ
THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, ANY AMENDMENTS THERETO, THE PROSPECTUS/MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR AND ALL OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED
OR THAT WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC AND THE SECURITIES COMMISSIONS OR SIMILAR SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITIES IN EACH OF THE PROVINCES
AND TERRITORIES OF CANADA IN CONNECTION WITH THE REORGANIZATION AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION
ABOUT VERSABANK, VERSA BANCORP AND THE REORGANIZATION. HOWEVER, THIS DOCUMENT WILL NOT CONTAIN ALL THE INFORMATION THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED
CONCERNING THE REORGANIZATION. IT IS ALSO NOT INTENDED TO FORM THE BASIS OF ANY INVESTMENT DECISION OR ANY OTHER DECISION IN RESPECT
OF THE REORGANIZATION. When available, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus/Management Information Circular, and other relevant
documents will be mailed to the shareholders of VersaBank as of a record date to be established for voting on the Reorganization. Shareholders
and other interested persons will also be able to obtain copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus/Management Information
Circular, and other documents filed by VersaBank with the SEC and with the securities commissions or similar securities regulatory authorities
in each of the provinces or territories of Canada that will be incorporated by reference therein, without charge, once available, at
the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov., and as applicable, on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
Copies of the filings together with the materials incorporated by reference therein will also be available, without charge, by directing
a request to VersaBank, 140 Fullarton Street, Suite 2002, London, Ontario N6A 5P2, Attention: Investor Relations, Telephone: 800-244-1509.
Participants in the Solicitation
VersaBank, the Parent and their
respective directors and executive officers and other persons may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect
of proposals relating to the Reorganization. Information regarding the directors and executive officers of VersaBank, the Parent and other
participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their respective direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise,
are available in the Registration Statement with respect to the Reorganization filed with the SEC. Investors should read the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus/Management Information Circular carefully before making any voting or investment decisions. Free copies of
these materials from VersaBank may be obtained as indicated above. Neither the Registration Statement nor the Prospectus/Management Information
Circular has become final and is subject to change. Final versions of those documents and other proxy materials are expected to be mailed
to shareholders in due course, and should be carefully reviewed before making any decision in connection with the Reorganization.
No Offer or Solicitation
This press release shall not constitute
a solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the Reorganization. This press release
shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities
in any states or jurisdictions in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under
the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the
requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act, or an exemption therefrom.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
VersaBank’s public communications
often include written or oral forward-looking statements. Statements of this type are included in this press release and may also be included
in other securities filings or in other communications. All such statements are made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions
of, and are intended to be forward-looking statements under, the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and any
applicable Canadian securities legislation. The statements in this press release that relate to future events or future performance are
forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the expectation that the SEC will declare the Registration Statement effective,
the nature and timing of the Meeting, the impact of the Reorganization on VersaBank and its shareholders and other matters relating to
the Reorganization.
By their very nature, forward-looking
statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, many of which are beyond VersaBank’s control. There
is a risk that predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. Readers are cautioned not
to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, as a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially
from the plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in such statements. These factors include, but are not limited
to: the strength of the Canadian and US economies in general and the local economies within in which VersaBank operates; the effects of
changes in monetary and fiscal policy, including changes in interest rate policies of the Bank of Canada and the US Federal Reserve; global
commodity prices; the effects of competition in the markets in which VersaBank operates; inflation; capital market fluctuations; the timely
development and introduction of new products in receptive markets; the impact of changes in laws, including trade laws and tariffs, and
regulations applicable to financial services; changes in tax laws; technological changes; unexpected judicial or regulatory proceedings;
unexpected changes in consumer spending and savings habits; the impact of wars or conflicts and related effects on global supply chains
and markets; the impact of outbreaks of disease or illness affecting local, national or international economies; the possible effects
of terrorist activities; natural disasters and disruptions to public infrastructure (including
transportation, communications, power or water supply); and VersaBank’s ability to anticipate and manage the risks associated with
these factors.
The foregoing list of important
factors is not exhaustive. When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider
the foregoing factors as well as other uncertainties and potential events. The forward-looking information contained in this press release
is presented to assist VersaBank shareholders and others in understanding VersaBank’s financial position and may not be appropriate
for any other purposes. Except as required by applicable securities laws, VersaBank does not undertake to update any forward- looking
statement contained in this press release or made from time to time by VersaBank or on its behalf.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
LodeRock Advisors
Lawrence Chamberlain
(416) 540-7486
lawrence.chamberlain@loderockadvisors.com