UMB Financial Corporation filed a Form 425 communication on October 28, 2026, consisting of a letter sent by Chairman and CEO Mariner Kemper to employees of El Dorado Savings Bank, F.S.B. following the announcement of an agreement for UMB to acquire El Dorado.

Key Highlights

  • Acquisition announced: UMB Financial Corporation agreed to acquire El Dorado Savings Bank, F.S.B., with the letter sent to El Dorado employees on October 28, 2026.
  • Branch expansion: According to the filing, the transaction would add El Dorado's 31 California branches and four Nevada branches, growing UMB's overall footprint to 227 branches across 15 states.
  • Leadership continuity: The filing states that El Dorado's Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Jacobs will transition to a position within UMB Consumer leadership.
  • Employee base: The filing states UMB has more than 5,000 associates, with an average tenure of 8.8 years, described as "nearly twice the industry average."
  • Family legacies: The letter notes that Mariner Kemper is the sixth Kemper to lead UMB, which was founded by his great-grandfather in 1913, and that David Cook is the fifth Cook family member to lead El Dorado.
  • Business as usual: The filing states that "until the acquisition closes, it's business as usual for both companies."

UMB Financial's CEO Letter to El Dorado Employees: Transaction Details and Integration Plans

UMB Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:UMBF) filed the Form 425 communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with UMB Financial Corporation named as the subject company under Commission File No. 001-38481. The filing consists of an internal letter dated October 28, 2026, written by Chairman and CEO Mariner Kemper and addressed to employees of El Dorado Savings Bank, F.S.B., the day after the acquisition agreement was announced.

According to the filing, the transaction is intended to expand UMB's retail presence in the West. The letter discloses that El Dorado operates 31 California branches and four Nevada branches, and that combining these with UMB's existing network would result in 227 total branches across 15 states. The filing identifies Liz Lewis, described as President of Consumer Banking and Chief Marketing Officer, as the leader of UMB's consumer business. The letter also states that UMB has been in operation for more than 113 years and that El Dorado has been in operation for 68 years.

The filing notes that UMB has established a dedicated page for El Dorado employees on its UMB Benefits Hub website, accessible at umbbenefits.com/EDSB. The letter states that additional information will be posted as it becomes available and that the site can be accessed on any device. The communication includes a cautionary note disclosing that certain statements constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws, and that such statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that "could cause actual results to differ materially." The filing lists regulatory approvals, stockholder approvals, and other conditions as factors that could affect the closing of the transaction.

What Was Disclosed

UMB Financial Corporation filed a Form 425 containing a CEO letter to El Dorado Savings Bank employees, disclosing the acquisition agreement, planned branch network expansion to 227 locations across 15 states, leadership transition details, and employee resources related to the pending transaction.