Esquire Financial jumps after unveiling $348 million deal for Signature Bancorporation

Esquire Financial Holdings

12/03/2026 18:12

** Community lender Esquire Financial's ESQ.O shares jump 6.6% to $105.57

** ESQ will buy privately held Signature Bancorporation in a $348.3 million all-stock deal to expand into the Chicago market

** Deal will create a combined bank with $4.8 billion in assets and boost ESQ profit by 23% in 2027, the companies said

** "Investors have often wondered if and when ESQ would ever pursue M&A with the question often posed given the stock's currency" - Piper Sandler

** "This deal checks every last box and so while the timing was always a question, the look of this target falls right in line with what expectations were set at (high performing, commercial/middle market C&I specialty, strong funding, branch-lite and major metro presence)"

** Transaction expected to close in third quarter of 2026

** One of three brokerages rates the stock "buy" and two "hold"; median PT $120.50 - data compiled by LSEG

** As of last close, ESQ stock down 3% YTD

 (Reporting by Arasu Kannagi Basil in Bengaluru)

 ((ArasuKannagi.Basil@thomsonreuters.com;))