FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 19, 2012
CONTACT:
Thomas J. Wilkinson, Chairman and CEO
(608) 203-1201
twilkinson@wisconsinbankandtrust.com
Kevin S. Tenpas, President
(920) 983-5008
ktenpas@wisconsinbankandtrust.com
Madison and Platteville, WI, November 19, 2012— Wisconsin Bank & Trust, a Wisconsin-chartered bank and subsidiary of Heartland Financial USA, Inc. (NASDAQ: HTLF), announced today that Heartland closed on the purchase of First Shares Inc. (FSI), parent company of First National Bank of Platteville in Platteville, Wisconsin.
“We are pleased to welcome clients of First National Bank of Platteville to Wisconsin Bank & Trust,” said Tom Wilkinson, chairman and CEO of Wisconsin Bank & Trust. “We look forward to continuing the heritage of respect for the customer and commitment to the Platteville community and see promising growth ahead in southwestern Wisconsin.”
The merger agreement, which received shareholder approval on November 2, 2012, and all regulatory approvals, provides for all outstanding shares of FSI to be converted into a combination of cash and shares of Heartland common stock. Based on the 30-day closing price of Heartland common shares, FSI shareholders will receive .8677 shares of Heartland and $18.37 in cash for each FSI share tendered. The aggregate purchase price was $10.9 million. Simultaneous with closing of the transaction, First National Bank has been merged into Heartland’s Wisconsin Bank & Trust subsidiary.
The transaction included assets of approximately $129 million, loans of $88 million and deposits of $113 million as of September 30, 2012. Prior to the transaction closing, Wisconsin Bank & Trust had assets of $512 million, loans of $356 million and deposits of $424 million.
The merger expands the number of Wisconsin Bank & Trust locations from seven to ten and adds southwestern Wisconsin to the bank’s service area. The new branch locations are located in Platteville, Lancaster, and Hazel Green. Signage at these locations is being changed to reflect the Wisconsin Bank & Trust brand in southwestern Wisconsin.
“Joining forces with First National Bank ‘fills in’ our presence close to our current locations in Monroe and Madison,” said Kevin Tenpas, president of Wisconsin Bank & Trust. “We anticipate continued growth in our agricultural lending programs and believe existing customers of First National Bank of Platteville, both retail and commercial, will benefit from the merger. We offer a wide selection of products and services delivered in the same convenient, face-to-face manner they are used to. ”
Tenpas concluded, “We are also fortunate to add a talented local management team and staff to Wisconsin Bank & Trust.”
About Wisconsin Bank & Trust
Wisconsin Bank & Trust (WB&T), formerly Wisconsin Community Bank and Heartland Business Bank, is a community bank with assets of over $600 million serving customers throughout the state. The bank operates ten branch offices, all located in Wisconsin, and is a subsidiary of Heartland Financial USA, Inc. WB&T is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and an Equal Housing Lender. Find WB&T at www.wisconsinbankandtrust.com.
About Heartland Financial USA, Inc.
Heartland Financial USA, Inc. is a $4.6 billion diversified financial services company providing commercial and retail banking, residential mortgage, wealth management, investment services, insurance and consumer finance services. Heartland currently has 68 banking locations in 46 communities in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Arizona, Montana, Colorado and Minnesota and mortgage loan production offices in California, Nevada, Wyoming, Idaho and North Dakota. Additional information about Heartland Financial USA, Inc. is available at www.htlf.com.
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