Regent Bank enters merger deal

The parent company of Tulsa, Oklahoma-based Regent Bank has reached a definitive merger agreement with a Florida bank.

Regent Capital Corp. and Starke, Florida-based DLP Bancshares Inc., the parent company of DLP Bank, are combining through an all-stock transaction for undisclosed terms, according to a news release. Regent Bank, which launched in Springfield in early 2018, operates locally at 3271 E. Battlefield Road, Ste. 100.

Both companies' boards have unanimously approved the deal, which is expected to close in the third quarter pending regulatory review.

“We are honored to partner with a high-quality organization that aligns so well with our culture and accelerates our strategic priorities,” said Sean Kouplen, Regent Bank chair and CEO, in the 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."

Following the completion of the deal, Regent Bank and DLP Bank would operate as separate community banks under the common ownership of Regent Capital Corp. Combined, the organization would have $2 billion in assets, $1.8 billion in deposits, $1.6 billion in loans and leases, eight branches and three loan production offices in Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri and Florida.

In the Springfield metropolitan statistical area, Regent Bank had $160.2 million in deposits as of June 30, 2024, according to data from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. That represented a metro market share of 0.98%.