Sept 15 (Reuters) - National Bank Holdings ( NBHC ) said

on Monday it would acquire smaller peer Vista Bank in a $369.1

million cash-and-stock transaction, a move aimed at expanding

the regional lender's footprint in Texas.

The second half of the year is expected to provide footing

to a long-predicted wave of dealmaking among regional lenders,

as a lighter regulatory touch under the current administration

lifts executive sentiment despite residual macroeconomic

uncertainty.

Last week, U.S. bank PNC Financial agreed to buy

privately-held FirstBank Holding in a $4.1 billion

cash-and-stock deal, following an $8.6 billion all-stock merger

between Pinnacle Financial Partners ( PNFP ) and Synovus

Financial ( SNV ) in July.

"While we may have had multiple opportunities along the way

and strongly considered an IPO, after meeting the NBHC team, it

became clear to us that NBH Bank is the right partner at the

right time," Vista Bank Chief Executive Officer John Steinmetz

said. Steinmetz will lead the Texas markets for the combined

entity.

Under the deal terms, Vista shareholders will receive about

$84.8 million in cash and 7.4 million shares of National Bank ( NBHC )

common stock.

Based on National Bank's ( NBHC ) closing share price of $38.47 on

Friday, the deal is valued at $369.1 million.

Founded in 1912, Dallas-based Vista Bank reported $2.4

billion in assets across 11 banking centers as of June 30,

primarily operating in Texas and Palm Beach, Florida.

The combined entity will hold about $12.4 billion in pro

forma assets, with Denver, Colorado-based National Bank ( NBHC ) planning

to retain Vista's brand in Texas.

The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of

2026.