“We are excited about this opportunity to grow our community banking franchise in central western Wisconsin,” stated Stephen Bianchi, President and CEO of Citizens. “Adding the Tomah market will allow us to leverage our personnel, resources and knowledge and will allow us to make “More Possible” through enhanced capabilities, operational efficiencies, and community outreach. Our deeper product offerings and increased lending capacity will allow us to better serve our new clients in and around the city of Tomah. We believe this acquisition will enhance shareholder value, as pro forma assets will exceed $1.4 billion. Additionally, the estimated tangible book value earn-back is expected to be approximately three years, and we will benefit immediately from additional core earnings on a per share basis. We expect the merger to close in the second calendar quarter of 2019, subject to the receipt of required regulatory approvals. This transaction follows the recently completed United Bank acquisition in the Chippewa Valley area, and it further improves our loan and deposit compositions.”
“Our team looks forward to working with the Citizens team to serve our clients,” said Peter Reichardt, CEO of F&M and F&M Bank. “Given the challenges and opportunities of community banking today, the combined bank will be better positioned to meet the needs of our communities. I look forward to joining Citizens’ senior leadership team and helping integrate the companies and expand in the area. We share a common set of values and a vision that will provide significant benefits to our customers and shareholders.”
As of September 30, 2018, Citizens had $975.4 million in assets. Citizens closed on its merger with United Bank on October 19, 2018, adding approximately $269 million in assets, $203 million in loans and $228 million in deposits as of September 30, 2018. Following the completion of the sale of CCFBank’s Rochester Hills, MI branch, which is also expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2019, and the completion of the F&M Bank transaction, CCFBank is expected to have approximately $1.4 billion in assets through 28 locations.
FIG Partners, LLC acted as financial advisor to Citizens in the transaction, and Briggs & Morgan, P.A. served as outside legal counsel to Citizens. The Oak Ridge Financial Services Group, Inc.acted as financial advisor to the Board of F&M, and Godfrey & Kahn, S.C., served as legal counsel to F&M.
About Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. and Citizens Community Federal N.A.
Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: “CZWI”) is the holding company of Citizens Community Federal, National Association, a national bank based in Altoona, Wisconsin, serving customers in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan through 27 branch locations. Its primary markets include the Chippewa Valley Region in Wisconsin, the Twin Cities and Mankato markets in Minnesota, and various rural communities around these areas. The company offers traditional community banking services to businesses, Ag operators and consumers, includingone-to-four family mortgages.
About F&M Bancorp of Tomah, Inc and Farmers and Merchants Bank
F. & M. Bancorp. of Tomah, Inc. is a Wisconsin corporation and registered bank holding company that owns 100% of the stock of Farmers & Merchants Bank. Farmers & Merchants Bank is a Wisconsin state chartered bank headquartered in Tomah, Wisconsin, with two full service offices. Farmers & Merchants Bank was founded in 1911 and is a community oriented, full-service retail bank.