Phoenix-based Arizona Bank & Trust, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Heartland Financial USA, Inc. and Wisconsin-based Johnson Bank, a subsidiary of Johnson Financial Group, Inc., jointly announced last week that they have entered into a purchase and assumption agreement, pursuant to which AB&T will acquire Johnson Bank’s Arizona banking operations, including four branches in Phoenix and Scottsdale, and will assume substantially all of the Arizona deposits and certain other liabilities of Johnson Bank. Johnson Insurance Services is not a part of this transaction.
In connection with the closing of this transaction, Johnson Bank’s four full-service branches in Phoenix and Scottsdale and substantially all of its Arizona banking operations will be acquired by ABT. The Johnson Bank branches had deposits of approximately $362 million and loans of $186 million as of March 31, 2020. The actual amount of deposits assumed and loans acquired will be determined at closing.
AB&T had $866 million in total assets as of March 31, 2020. It currently operates six full-service banking centers in the East Valley of the Phoenix market. When the transaction is complete, AB&T will become Heartland’s eighth bank subsidiary to cross a billion in assets with approximately $1.2 billion and 10 banking centers. AB&T will continue to operate under the Arizona Bank & Trust brand.
William Callahan, Arizona Bank & Trust’s President and CEO said, “Arizona Bank & Trust and Johnson Bank share a common focus of providing excellent service to our customers and leadership for our communities. This transaction will enable us to add an attractive mix of commercial and personal clients, as well as experienced banking talent that we believe will enhance our business development capabilities. We are excited to complete this acquisition, which we believe will be a strong complement to our organic growth.”
“We have tremendous respect for the team at Heartland and their community banking values. Heartland’s culture is very similar to Johnson Financial Group’s culture in the way in which it engages its employees, serves its customers, and supports its communities,” said Jim Popp, JFG’s President and CEO. “We look forward to the successful transition of our business to a local partner. Our Arizona team has been an integral part of the JFG family for more than 30 years. We are thankful to our Arizona associates for building a strong, vibrant, diversified business in one of the most dynamic growth markets in the country.”
The branch transaction is subject to approval by federal and state bank regulators and to customary closing conditions, and is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2020.
Mr. Callahan concluded, “We are increasing our presence and adding scale in Phoenix with a solid and experienced team dedicated to client success. We extend a warm welcome to Johnson Bank’s Arizona customers and employees to our organization.”
Arizona Bank & Trust, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Heartland, is a full-service commercial bank with assets of more than $866 million. Arizona Bank & Trust operates six banking centers across the vibrant Phoenix market. AB&T blends the intimacy and responsiveness of a community bank with the resources of a large financial services company. For more information, visit www.arizbank.com. AB&T is a member of the FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender.
Johnson Financial Group, with offices in Wisconsin, Arizona and Minnesota, is a privately owned financial services company offering banking, wealth and insurance solutions through its subsidiaries, Johnson Bank, Johnson Wealth, and Johnson Insurance Services. For more information visit www.johnsonfinancialgroup.com.
Heartland is a diversified financial services company with assets of $13.29 billion as of March 31, 2020. The company provides banking, mortgage, private client, investment, insurance and consumer finance services to individuals and businesses. Heartland currently has 114 banking locations serving 83 communities in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Arizona, Montana, Colorado, Minnesota, Kansas, Missouri, Texas and California. Additional information about Heartland Financial USA, Inc. is available at www.htlf.com.
