Aug 27 (Reuters) - Regional lender First Busey ( BUSE )

has agreed to buy peer CrossFirst Bankshares ( CFB ) in a deal

valued at $916.8 million, the companies said on Tuesday.

CrossFirst shareholders will receive 0.6675 shares of Busey

for each stock held, valuing the lender at $18.28 per share

based on the stock's last close.

The deal will create a combined lender with $20 billion in

total assets and underscores the growing consolidation in the

U.S. regional banking industry.

The deal represents a 0.3% discount to CrossFirst's last

close, and is expected to close in the first or second quarter

of 2025.

Raymond James and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods served as the

financial advisers to Busey and CrossFirst, respectively.