November 6, 2015
VIA EDGAR
Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Corporation Finance
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Attention: Mr. Dietrich A. King
| Re: | Equity Bancshares, Inc. |
| Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-207351) |
| Request for Acceleration of Effectiveness |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In accordance with Rule 461 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), we hereby join Equity Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”) in requesting that the effectiveness of the Company’s above-referenced Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended, be accelerated so that it will become effective on Tuesday, November 10, 2015, at 2:00 p.m., Washington D.C. time, or as soon thereafter as practicable.
Additionally, pursuant to Rule 460 of the Securities Act, we hereby advise you that 1,800 copies of the Preliminary Prospectus dated November 2, 2015, were furnished to 3 prospective underwriters and distributed by the underwriters approximately as follows from November 2, 2015 through the date hereof: 1,450 copies to institutional investors and 350 copies to others.
We, the undersigned, as representatives of the several underwriters, have and will, and each underwriter has advised the undersigned that it has and will, comply with the requirements of Rule 15c2-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
| Very Truly Yours, | ||
KEEFE, BRUYETTE & WOODS, INC. STEPHENS INC. as Representatives of the several Underwriters | ||
| KEEFE, BRUYETTE & WOODS, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Lisa Schultz | |
| Name: | Lisa Schultz | |
| Title: | Managing Director Co-Head Equity Capital Markets | |
| STEPHENS INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Scott Studwell | |
| Name: | Scott Studwell | |
| Title: | Managing Director Head of FIG ECM | |
