BY DAN HILDEBRAN
Regent Capital Corporation of Tulsa, Oklahoma, said in a news release that it has signed a merger agreement with DLP Bancshares, Inc., the parent company of Starke’s DLP Bank.
Under the agreement, the Oklahoma holding company, which now operates four branches in the Sooner state, and one each in Texas and Missouri, would acquire DLP Bancshares in an all-stock transaction.
“After the closing of the transaction,” Regent Capital said in the release, “DLP Bank and Regent Bank will operate as separate community banks, both owned by Regent Capital Corporation. The combined organization is expected to have approximately $2 billion in total assets, $1.8 billion in deposits, $1.6 billion in loans and leases, 8 full-service branches, and three loan production offices in four states: Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, and Florida.”
Three DLP Bank board members plan to join Regent Capital Corporation and Regent Bank’s boards, each of which will maintain a 10-member board.
“We are honored to partner with a high-quality organization that aligns so well with our culture and accelerates our strategic priorities,” said Regent Bank Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sean Kouplen in the news release. “DLP Bank brings a tremendous investor base for future growth capital, a strong core deposit base, and a loan mix that increases the diversification of our loan portfolio. The central and northeast Florida markets are an excellent complement to our existing rapidly growing markets in Oklahoma, southwest Missouri, and north Texas.”
Founded in 1957 as Community State Bank by former Gov. Charlie E. Johns, DLP Bank operates three full-service branches in Starke, Lake Butler, and Interlachen. As of December 31, 2024, DLP Bank had $247 million in total assets, $201 million in deposits, and $114 million in loans and leases.
The merger is pending approval from the Federal Reserve, which will accept public comments on the transaction through May 30.
DLP acquired Community State Bank in September 2022. Don Wenner is the CEO of DLP Capital, whose motto is dream, live, prosper.
