BUSINESS NEWS
From the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce...
Colorado-based FirstSun Capital Bancorp (“FirstSun,” or the “Company”), the holding company of Sunflower Bank, N.A. (“Sunflower Bank”), announced that it has completed its previously announced merger with Texas-based Pioneer Bancshares, Inc. (“Pioneer”) effective April 1, 2022. Also, effective April 1, 2022, Pioneer’s subsidiary bank, Pioneer Bank, SSB, merged into Sunflower Bank.
The combined company will operate under the FirstSun and Sunflower Bank trade names. Subsequent to the closing, FirstSun has over $7.3 billion in assets on a pro forma basis as of December 31, 2021, with 68 locations that include an expanded presence in Texas and a banking footprint in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas and New Mexico, with home mortgage origination capabilities in 43 states through its Guardian Mortgage division.
“Sunflower Bank has always been dedicated to growing soundly and profitably. We have a belief that the community bank ideals that we are built upon serve a need for relationship-oriented clients across communities large and small. Pioneer’s geographic footprint of Austin, Central Texas, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio is complementary to our footprint, and our product and service capabilities are supportive to the valued customer base of Pioneer,” said Mollie Carter, Chairman of FirstSun. “We believe our combined client base will benefit from our expanded footprint and the robust financial services usually found at much larger organizations.”
As a regional community bank, Sunflower Bank is based on a model that elevates local leadership, drives local decision-making, and strives to create deep connections to all its communities. Pioneer’s customers and communities have joined the bank’s Texas Region led by Seth Allen as Regional President. Mr. Allen was hired by Sunflower Bank in December 2019 and has been successfully building its commercial banking capabilities in multiple Texas markets.
To deliver the full benefits of its local expertise and accessibility, Sunflower Bank’s Texas Region has a market-based leadership structure that emphasizes continuity and knowledge. Brian Walsh, Sunflower Bank’s Chief Lending Officer, is based in Dallas and has been responsible for leading the development of the Dallas-Fort Worth area teams. Other local market leaders include Chris Bourne and Donna Day in Austin; Dustin Gibson in Collin County; Jeff Bundy in Fort Worth; and Scott Brewer in Houston. Plans are in progress to hire additional leaders for key markets and lines of business.