Connect with us

Technology

VERSABANK RECEIVES CANADIAN REGULATORY APPROVAL FOR U.S. BANK ACQUISITON: TRANSACTION TARGETED TO CLOSE AUGUST 30, 2024

Published

2 years ago

on

–  Acquisition Will Enable VersaBank to Broadly Launch its Unique and Highly Successful Receivable Purchase Program (RPP) Financing Solution in the United States –

LONDON, ON, June 25, 2024 /CNW/ – VersaBank (TSX: VBNK) (NASDAQ: VBNK), a North American leader in business-to-business digital banking, as well as technology solutions for cybersecurity, today announced that it has received approval from  its Canadian regulator, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI), to proceed with VersaBank’s acquisition of Minnesota-based Stearns Bank Holdingford N.A. (“Stearns Holdingford”) (the “U.S. Bank Acquisition”).  OSFI’s approval follows approvals by U.S. regulators and is the final approval required to enable VersaBank to complete the U.S.  Bank Acquisition.  VersaBank is targeting close of the U.S. Bank Acquisition for August 30, 2024.

Stearns Holdingford is an independent OCC-chartered national bank with US$79 million in assets located in Holdingford, Minnesota that is wholly owned by Stearns Financial Services, Inc. (“Stearns Financial”). Stearns Financial, a multi-bank holding company owning two additional and separate national bank charters, Stearns Bank Upsala National Association and Stearns Financial’s flagship and largest national bank, Stearns Bank National Association (headquartered in St. Cloud, Minnesota), is not part of the VersaBank transaction and will continue to exist and operate independently.

“OSFI’s approval of our U.S. bank acquisition – the final regulatory hurdle for this transformational next step in our growth strategy – paves the way for the launch of our unique and highly successful Receivable Purchase Program (RPP) to the largest point-of-sale financing market in the world,” said David Taylor, President and Chief Executive Officer, VersaBank.  “Building on more than a decade of very strong growth in our RPP portfolio in Canada and the very favourable response to our RPP pilot program in the U.S., we are actively working toward broadly launching our RPP solution this autumn to address the significant demand that has developed since first announcing  our intention to enter the U.S. market.”

Mr. Taylor added, “We are actively working with the Stearns team toward closing of the Stearns Holdingford acquisition, ensuring a smooth transition and integration, and continuing the outstanding legacy of Stearns Holdingford in serving the local community.”

About VersaBank’s Receivables Purchase Program

VersaBank’s Receivable Purchase Program is an innovative and highly attractive digital funding solution for finance companies who lend money to consumers and small businesses for what are typically “big ticket” purchases (e.g. consumer home improvement/HVAC projects and a wide variety of commercial equipment).   It was specifically designed to address an unmet need in the market for consistently available, readily accessible, economically attractive capital using VersaBank’s proprietary, state-of-the-art banking technology.  Consistent with its branchless, business-to-business, partner-based digital banking strategy, VersaBank’s RPP enables it to access the massive and growing consumer and small business financing market in an indirect, efficient and highly risk-mitigated manner.

As of April 30, 2024, VersaBank’s Receivable Purchase Program portfolio was in excess of C$3.1 billion (US$2.3 billion), growing at compounded annual rate of more than 26% over the last five years (fiscal year ended October 31).  Since the Bank’s RPP was first launched in Canada in 2010 and launched on a limited basis in the U.S. in April 2022, VersaBank has provided more than C$9 billion (more than US$6.5 billion) in funding to North American finance companies.

About VersaBank

VersaBank is a Canadian Schedule I chartered (federally licensed) bank with a difference. VersaBank became the world’s first fully digital financial institution when it adopted its highly efficient business-to-business model in 1993 using its proprietary state-of-the-art financial technology to profitably address underserved segments of the Canadian banking market in the pursuit of superior net interest margins while mitigating risk. VersaBank obtains all of its deposits and provides the majority of its loans and leases electronically, with innovative deposit and lending solutions for financial intermediaries that allow them to excel in their core businesses. In addition, leveraging its internally developed IT security software and capabilities, VersaBank established wholly owned, Washington, DC-based subsidiary, DRT Cyber Inc. to pursue significant large-market opportunities in cyber security and develop innovative solutions to address the rapidly growing volume of cyber threats challenging financial institutions, multi-national corporations and government entities on a daily basis.

VersaBank’s Common Shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) and Nasdaq under the symbol VBNK. Its Series 1 Preferred Shares trade on the TSX under the symbol VBNK.PR.A.

Forward-Looking Statements 

VersaBank’s public communications often include written or oral forward-looking statements. Statements of this type are included in this document, and may be included in other filings and with Canadian securities regulators or the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or in other communications. All such statements are made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of, and are intended to be forward-looking statements under, the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and any applicable Canadian securities legislation. The statements in this press release that relate to the future are forward-looking statements. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, many of which are out of our control. Risks exist that predictions, forecasts, projections, and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as several important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the strength of the Canadian and U.S. economy in general and the strength of the local economies within Canada and U.S. in which we conduct operations; the effects of changes in monetary and fiscal policy, including changes in interest rate policies of the Bank of Canada and the U.S. Federal Reserve; changing global commodity prices; the effects of competition in the markets in which we operate; inflation; capital market fluctuations; the timely development and introduction of new products in receptive markets; the impact of changes in the laws and regulations pertaining to financial services; changes in tax laws; technological changes; unexpected judicial or regulatory proceedings; unexpected changes in consumer spending and savings habits; the impact of wars or conflicts including the crisis in Ukraine and the impact of the crisis on global supply chains; the impact of new variants of COVID-19 and the Bank’s anticipation of and success in managing the risks implicated by the foregoing. For a detailed discussion of certain key factors that may affect our future results, please see our annual MD&A for the year ended October 31, 2023.

The foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The forward-looking information contained in this document and the related management’s discussion and analysis is presented to assist our shareholders and others in understanding our financial position and may not be appropriate for any other purposes. Except as required by securities law, we do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that is contained in this document and the related management’s discussion and analysis or made from time to time by the Bank or on its behalf.

Visit our website at:  www.versabank.com

Follow VersaBank on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter)

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/versabank-receives-canadian-regulatory-approval-for-us-bank-acquisiton-transaction-targeted-to-close-august-30-2024-302181074.html

SOURCE VersaBank

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Technology

Protiviti Congratulates Brand Ambassador Matt Fitzpatrick as Fitzpatrick Brothers Win Zurich Classic of New Orleans

Published

33 minutes ago

on

April 27, 2026

By

Alex Fitzpatrick Earns PGA TOUR Card

MENLO PARK, Calif., April 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Protiviti Golf Brand Ambassador and professional golfer Matt Fitzpatrick continued his strong 2026 season with a victory at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans alongside his brother, Alex Fitzpatrick. The Fitzpatrick brothers delivered a composed and cohesive performance throughout the team-format event, completing rounds of 64-65-57-71 (-31). The win secured Alex Fitzpatrick his first PGA TOUR card, marking a significant milestone in his professional career.

This marks Matt Fitzpatrick’s third win of the season, most on the PGA Tour, the 14th professional win of his career, and fifth on the PGA Tour. Fitzpatrick is currently No.1 on the FedEx Cup ranking and No. 3 in the Official World Golf Ranking, the highest ranking of his career. 

To commemorate Fitzpatrick’s win, Protiviti donated 25,000 meals through its “Birdies for Meals” campaign. Since its launch in 2021, the Birdies for Meals program has already donated more than 825,000 meals to people in need. 

“Congratulations to Matt Fitzpatrick and Alex Fitzpatrick on an outstanding victory—an inspiring showcase of chemistry and consistency. We also applaud Alex on earning his PGA TOUR card, a significant step in his career,” said Joseph Tarantino, Protiviti’s president and CEO. “In celebration of this win, Protiviti will donate 25,000 meals through our Birdies for Meals campaign, extending the impact well beyond the course.”

As Matt Fitzpatrick’s Official Performance Data Partner, Protiviti collaborates closely with Matt and his coaching team to enhance performance through advanced analytics and technology. By leveraging Microsoft technologies, Protiviti has developed a custom analytics platform, tailored dashboards, and a mobile application that streamline data collection and deliver real-time, shot-level insights. These tools enable more informed, data-driven decision-making across practice and competition, helping identify trends, refine preparation, and improve consistency. Learn more at www.protiviti.com/golf-data.

“It has been an incredible opportunity to work with Matt and see Protiviti’s work play a role in his on-course success. Just as we do with many clients, our team has built a bespoke program leveraging emerging technologies, advanced analytics and artificial intelligence to provide Matt, his caddie, and coaches with analysis and insights that aid in his preparation and guide strategy for each event he plays,” said Nick Ciafardini, associate director, Innovation for Protiviti.

“This win is surreal for me, especially doing it alongside my brother. I’m incredibly proud of Alex earning his PGA TOUR card—it’s a huge milestone for him and one we’ll always share. I’m also so grateful for the unwavering support from my family, my team, and my partners at Protiviti, whose data-driven approach to performance has become a key part of my preparation and constant pursuit of improvement,” said Matt Fitzpatrick.

After taking control with a historic 15-under in the fourball third round, the Fitzpatrick brothers briefly dropped the lead in the final round. With the tournament on the line at the 18th, they delivered a clutch closing sequence to seal the victory. Matt’s precision tee-to-green and Alex’s timely putting proved decisive, highlighting their chemistry under pressure.

Other notable Fitzpatrick wins include the 2015 British Masters, 2016 Nordea Masters, the 2016, 2020, and 2025 DP World Tour Championships. On the PGA Tour, Fitzpatrick also won the 2022 U.S. Open, RBC Heritage (2023 & 2026) and the 2026 Valspar Championship. He has been a Protiviti brand ambassador since 2020.

For more information about Protiviti’s golf brand ambassador program, please visit www.protiviti.com/golf.

About Protiviti 
Protiviti (www.protiviti.com) is a global consulting firm that helps clients transform and protect their businesses, and respond to planned and unexpected events. Through a network of more than 90 offices in over 25 countries, Protiviti and its independent and locally owned member firms deliver deep expertise and tailored capabilities across technology, artificial intelligence, data, operations, finance, legal, compliance, HR, marketing, digital, risk, and internal audit – enabling organizations to accelerate innovation, navigate risks and safeguard what matters most.

Named to the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® list since 2015, Protiviti Inc. has served more than 80 percent of Fortune 100 and nearly 80 percent of Fortune 500 companies. The firm also works with government agencies and smaller, growing companies, including those looking to go public. Protiviti Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Robert Half (NYSE: RHI).

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/protiviti-congratulates-brand-ambassador-matt-fitzpatrick-as-fitzpatrick-brothers-win-zurich-classic-of-new-orleans-302753847.html

SOURCE Protiviti

Continue Reading

Technology

Plug and Play partners with the Nigerian Institution of Marine Engineers and Naval Architects to elevate Nigeria’s maritime ecosystem

Published

33 minutes ago

on

April 27, 2026

By

SINGAPORE, April 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Plug and Play, the world’s largest open innovation platform headquartered in Silicon Valley, announced a strategic partnership with the Nigerian Institution of Marine Engineers and Naval Architects (NIMENA) to accelerate the transformation of Nigeria’s maritime sector into a globally competitive innovation hub.

The partnership will connect Nigeria’s maritime ecosystem to global standards, networks, and capital by leveraging Plug and Play’s international corporate partnerships, accelerator expertise, and cross-border innovation infrastructure.

At its core, the collaboration will launch a dedicated maritime & energy innovation platform focused on advancing engineering-led technologies across maritime, energy, supply chain, and logistics sectors. The initiative will involve the development of a startup pipeline between Nigeria and Singapore, widely regarded as one of the world’s most advanced maritime & energy innovation ecosystems serving as a neutral and trusted testbed for technology validation. 

Through this program, selected startups will receive:

Access to cutting-edge technologies and global industry insightsStructured mentorship from international maritime & energy innovation leadersPilot and proof-of-concept opportunities in a globally benchmarked ecosystemCommercialization pathways into the Nigerian marketBusiness development and investor-readiness supportOpportunities for cross-border partnerships and market expansion

By ensuring that solutions being scaled into Nigeria have been validated in overseas markets the program minimizes adoption risks while accelerating technology transfer and investment flows into the Nigerian maritime & energy sector.

“Engineering-driven innovation is critical to solving some of the world’s most complex challenges—from sustainable shipping to the decarbonization of marine operations,” said Jupe Tan, Managing Partner, APAC, Plug and Play. “By partnering with NIMENA, we are creating a trusted bridge between global innovation ecosystems and Nigeria’s maritime & energy sector, unlocking pathways for international collaboration and long-term competitiveness.”

“This partnership marks a transformative step for Nigeria’s energy and maritime innovation ecosystem,” said Dr. Eferebo Sylvanus, National Chairman, NIMENA. “By aligning with global standards and connecting our local talent to international platforms, we are creating new opportunities for Nigerian innovators to scale their solutions beyond borders while strengthening our national capabilities.”

Addressing Critical Ecosystem Gaps

1. Strengthening Ecosystem Alignment

To address fragmentation across government, academia, and industry stakeholders, Plug and Play has conducted a comprehensive ecosystem assessment. This data-driven evaluation examines capital access, talent pipelines, infrastructure readiness, and regulatory frameworks—culminating in a Strategic Ambition and Vertical Map for Nigeria’s maritime sector.

2. Creating a Stronger Investment Pipeline

While sector-specific funding opportunities exist, structured validation and vetting mechanisms remain limited. Under this partnership, Plug and Play will curate high-potential stage agnostic startups directing capital toward scalable, innovation-driven ventures with strong technical and commercial viability.

3. Enabling Global Market Access

The partnership will provide stage-agnostic startups with exposure to large corporations, regulators, and investors. Successful technologies will transition into exploring scaling opportunities in Nigeria for commercialization, positioning Nigeria as a high-growth destination for innovation across Africa.

A Bridge Between Global Trust and Local Scale

More than an accelerator program, the Plug and Play–NIMENA partnership is designed as a long-term platform for trust-building, knowledge transfer, and ecosystem anchoring.

Singapore will serve as the gateway for technology validation and international credibility, while Nigeria will serve as the destination for scaling, commercialization, and impact. This dual-ecosystem model ensures that cutting-edge solutions are introduced with global benchmarks while enabling sustainable, locally anchored growth.

As international startups expand into Nigeria, they will establish local operations, drive knowledge transfer, build intellectual property, and create high-value employment opportunities. Over time, this approach will not only attract foreign innovators but also catalyze the rise of homegrown Nigerian startups capable of contributing solutions to the global maritime industry.

By combining NIMENA’s technical leadership with Plug and Play’s global innovation infrastructure, the partnership represents a decisive step toward positioning Nigeria as an innovation hub for Africa, and a leader for maritime, energy, and adjacent industries for the region, ultimately strengthening competitiveness, accelerating entrepreneurship and advancement of technologies in their market, and aligning the national ecosystem with global best practices.

For partnership and participation inquiries:

Industry stakeholders interested in partnering are invited to connect with the team. We are actively seeking corporate and institutional partners to collaborate on pilot projects, proof-of-concept initiatives, and ecosystem development efforts. Global startups developing solutions across maritime, energy, logistics, supply chain, and related sectors are also encouraged to reach out to be considered for participation in the program.

For more information, please contact  nimena-program@pnptc.com

About the partners:

About Plug and Play

Plug and Play is the leading global innovation platform connecting startups, corporations, venture capital firms, universities, and government agencies. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, Plug and Play operates in more than 60 locations across five continents, helping corporate partners and founders in every stage of the innovation journey — from education to execution. Plug and Play runs startup acceleration programs, corporate innovation services, and an in-house venture capital platform that has invested in hundreds of successful companies, including Dropbox, PayPal, Honey, LendingClub, N26, and Rappi. For more information, visit https://www.plugandplayapac.com/

About the Nigerian Institution of Marine Engineers and Naval Architects (NIMENA)

The Nigerian Institution of Marine Engineers and Naval Architects (NIMENA) is a professional body consisting of Naval Architects, Marine Engineers, and allied professions. NIMENA is dedicated to strengthening professional standards, fostering technological innovation, promoting capacity, and sustainable development in Nigeria’s maritime sector. The institution provides thought leadership, professional development opportunities, technical workshops, and industry events to support maritime engineering excellence and capacity building. For more information, visit https://nimena.org.ng/home.html

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/plug-and-play-partners-with-the-nigerian-institution-of-marine-engineers-and-naval-architects-to-elevate-nigerias-maritime-ecosystem-302753673.html

SOURCE Plug and Play

Continue Reading

Technology

TPIsoftware Wins “Taiwan SMART 50 Award” for Its FHIR-Based Medical AI Application

Published

33 minutes ago

on

April 27, 2026

By

TAIPEI, April 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — TPIsoftware (TPEx: 7781) was honored with the first Taiwan SMART 50 Award for creating a FHIR-based Medical AI Application.

Organized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the award encourages the development of smart health apps that align with the SMART on FHIR standard to enable secure and real-time data sharing across different hospitals. 50 apps were selected from 115 submissions through an open call. These apps will be listed on the Taiwan Health App Space (THAS) as part of the country’s initiative to foster data interoperability in healthcare.

TPIsoftware’s submission of an AI-powered procedural coding tool, which is a module of its healthcare solution digiCare, has been proven to be practically effective and compliant with SMART on FHIR.

The procedural coding app uses Natural Language Processing (NLP) to identify whether a contrast agent is applied or specify anatomical sites in a radiology report. The tool generates suggested codes once clinical details are recognized, which medical professionals can then review and manually revise. The automated workflow improves coding accuracy, reduces denied claims and ensures compliance with ICD-10-PCS and DICOM. The data entry process is streamlined since the tool is compatible with existing systems such as EHR and HIS, freeing up staff to handle complex patient concerns and care journeys.

“Being named one of the SMART 50 Apps demonstrates our R&D capacity in supporting healthcare transformation. The standardized framework enables hospitals and medical centers to provide informed, high-quality care with greater consistency, security and plug-and-play simplicity,” said Pierre Hsia, Executive Vice President of Enterprise Application Development Division at TPIsoftware.

TPIsoftware General Manager Yilan Yeh attributed the accolade to the company’s domain expertise and years of experience in highly-regulated industries. “Partnerships among industry leaders, academic institutions, healthcare providers and government agencies are nurtured to support patient-centered care, clinical decisions and treatment. Following the model of the US All of Us Research Program, we are committed to building Taiwan’s national database aligned with the TW Core Implementation Guide (IG) and FHIR standard, where data are made accessible within an open, standardized ecosystem.”

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/tpisoftware-wins-taiwan-smart-50-award-for-its-fhir-based-medical-ai-application-302751606.html

SOURCE TPIsoftware

Continue Reading

Trending