First Mid Bancshares, Inc. filed a Form 425 on October 30, 2026, disclosing a customer-facing question-and-answer document related to its announced merger with Evergreen Bancshares, Inc. and its subsidiary, American Bank of Freedom.

Key Highlights

  • Announcement date: First Mid Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:FMBH) and Evergreen Bancshares, Inc. announced the transaction on October 29, 2026.
  • Transaction timeline: The corporate transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027, with the bank merger expected in the second quarter of 2027, subject to customary closing conditions and required approvals.
  • No branch closings anticipated: According to the filing, First Mid does not anticipate any American Bank of Freedom banking center closings.
  • Name change confirmed: The filing states the bank's name will change when the banks merge in Q2 2027.
  • Geographic reach: The combined organization will expand access to branch and ATM locations across Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Texas, and Wisconsin, plus a loan production office in Indiana.
  • Community involvement: According to the filing, First Mid employees donated over 20,000 volunteer hours to their communities last year.

Merger Details: First Mid and American Bank of Freedom Combination

According to the filing, First Mid Bancshares, headquartered in Mattoon, IL, announced on October 29, 2026 that American Bank of Freedom, a subsidiary of Evergreen Bancshares, Inc., will become part of First Mid. The filing describes First Mid Bank and Trust as "the oldest national bank in Illinois," chartered in 1865, and notes that the organization was recently named by Forbes among America's Best Banks at number 24 nationally and number 2 in Illinois.

The filing states that until the transaction is complete, "it is business as usual at American Bank of Freedom," and that customers should continue using their existing checks, debit and ATM cards, and online and mobile banking without interruption. The filing further notes that no change in branch hours is anticipated before the merger, and that any future changes would be communicated to customers "well in advance."

On the regulatory and disclosure front, the filing states that First Mid will file a registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC in connection with the proposed transactions. That registration statement will include a proxy statement of Evergreen that also constitutes a prospectus of First Mid, which the filing says will be sent to Evergreen shareholders. The filing notes that information about First Mid's directors and executive officers is set forth in the proxy statement for its 2026 annual meeting of stockholders, filed with the SEC on March 17, 2026. The filing's forward-looking statements are identified as the company's own and are subject to the cautionary language contained in the document.

What Was Disclosed

First Mid Bancshares filed a Form 425 containing a customer question-and-answer document related to its planned acquisition of American Bank of Freedom, a subsidiary of Evergreen Bancshares, Inc. The filing covers expected timing, service continuity, branch operations, and the planned name change upon merger completion in Q2 2027.