07:49 AM EDT, 07/14/2025 (MT Newswires) -- First Community (FCCO) and Signature Bank of Georgia have signed a deal under which First Community will acquire the latter in an all-stock transaction for about $41.6 million, the companies said Monday.

The boards of both companies have approved the merger, which is expected to be completed in early Q1 2026, the companies added.

Under the terms, Signature stockholders are entitled to get 0.6410 shares of First Community common stock for each Signature common share, the parties said, adding that Signature Chairman and Chief Executive Freddie Deutsch will be appointed as regional market president and director of specialty business lending of First Community Bank, the unit of First Community.

The deal is anticipated to be roughly 4.4% accretive to First Community's earnings per share in 2026, according to the companies.

Shares of First Community were up almost 1% in recent Monday premarket activity.