The Federal Reserve's run of bank ownership notices has widened since late October. New filings cover Newington Bancshares in Georgia, Plains Acquisition Corporation in Texas, C3 Holdings in Wisconsin and a group seeking to retain shares of Baker Boyer Bancorp in Washington state.
Comment deadlines now stretch to December 2. WaFd's EverBank bid closes November 12, Chime Financial's Stride Bank application closes November 20, and the Baker Boyer group's notice closes November 24. Newington and Plains face November 27; C3 Holdings faces December 2.
Why it matters
These windows are the public's only formal chance to object to a bank changing hands before the Fed rules.
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Key Indicators
31
Comment period length
October 9 to November 9, 2026, for the first batch of notices
11 events
Latest: 2 days ago
Showing 8 of 11
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November 2026
Comment period closes
LatestDeadline
Deadline for comments on the October 9 notice.
Baker Boyer group files change-in-control notice
Regulatory Notice
James M. Edmunds, Megan F. Clubb and Clifford W. Kontos applied as a group acting in concert to retain voting shares of Baker Boyer Bancorp and indirectly Baker Boyer National Bank, both of Walla Walla, Washington. Comments are due November 24, 2026.
C3 Holdings applies to become a bank holding company
Application
C3 Holdings, Inc. of Random Lake, Wisconsin, applied to become a bank holding company by acquiring Northern Financial Corporation and indirectly Independence State Bank of Independence, Wisconsin. Comments are due December 2, 2026.
October 2026
Newington and Plains bank holding company applications open for comment
Application
Newington Bancshares, Inc. of Newington, Georgia, applied to become a bank holding company by acquiring Bank of Newington. Plains Acquisition Corporation of Humble, Texas, applied to acquire Austin Colony, Inc. and indirectly First National Bank of Lake Jackson. Comments are due November 27, 2026.
Rainbolt family comment deadline
Deadline
Comments due on Rainbolt Family Control Group application.
Two more bank-control applications open for comment
Regulatory Notice
The Fed set a November 6, 2026 comment deadline on applications to acquire voting shares of TCB Bancshares and The Commercial Bank in Crawford, Georgia, and of First Southeastern Banc Group and First Southeast Bank in Harmony, Minnesota.
Chime applies to become a bank holding company
Application
Chime Financial, Inc. of San Francisco filed to become a bank holding company by acquiring Central Service Corporation and indirectly Stride Bank of Enid, Oklahoma. Comments are due November 20, 2026.
WaFd moves to buy EverBank
Application
WaFd, Inc. of Seattle applied to acquire EverBank Financial Corp and, through it, EverBank, National Association of Jacksonville, Florida. Comments are due November 12, 2026.
Fed opens comment period on bank ownership applications
Regulatory Notice
Notice covers Washington State Bancshares ESOP and related applications; comments due November 9.
Deckard seeks more State Bancorp Northwest shares
Application
Individual investor applies to acquire additional voting shares.
September 2026
TabaPay seeks bank holding company status
Application
Fintech TabaPay applies to acquire Transact Bank in Denver.
Scenarios
1
Fed approves Washington State Bancshares ESOP application
Likely
Resolves by End of 2026
Discussed by: Federal Reserve practice; most such applications are approved
The comment period closes with no objections, and the Fed approves the ESOP's application to become a bank holding company. This is the most common outcome for these applications, which are typically approved within 60 days of the comment deadline.
2
Comments raise concerns, Fed conditions or delays approval
Unlikely
Resolves by End of 2026
Discussed by: The Fed's review standards under the Bank Holding Company Act
Interested parties submit comments raising concerns about competition, financial stability, or community needs. The Fed extends its review or attaches conditions to the approval.
3
No public comments submitted by November 9 deadline
Deadline passed (Nov 9, 2026)
Discussed by: Routine nature of these applications
No comments are submitted by the November 9 deadline, and the Fed proceeds to decide the applications without public input. This is common for small, uncontroversial ownership changes.
Historical Context
2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.
1 of 2
1956
Bank Holding Company Act (1956)
Congress passed the Bank Holding Company Act, requiring Federal Reserve approval for forming or expanding bank holding companies. The law was the first major federal regulation of bank holding companies.
Then
The Fed gained authority to review bank ownership changes.
Now
The Act remains the legal basis for the Fed's review of bank holding company applications today.
Why this matters now
The October 9 notice cites the Act as the legal authority for the review process.
2 of 2
1978
Change in Bank Control Act (1978)
Congress passed the Change in Bank Control Act, extending the approval requirement to individuals seeking to acquire control of banks. The law requires notice to the Fed before acquiring control.
Then
Individual investors like Gregory Deckard must get Fed approval before acquiring bank control.
Now
The Act created the notice process used for the Rainbolt and Deckard applications.
Why this matters now
The Rainbolt and Deckard applications are filed under this Act.
