The deal would bring four community banking brands under Bennington’s umbrella, reflecting a broader push by regional banks to grow while preserving local identities.

Bennington State Bank, a Salina, Kansas-based institution with deep roots in the state, has agreed to acquire Flint Hills Bank, a smaller community lender serving four central Kansas towns, the companies announced last week.

The transaction, approved by the boards of both organizations, will be carried out through Berco, Inc., the bank holding company for Bennington State Bank. It is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, pending regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions.

The acquisition will expand Bennington State Bank’s presence into new Kansas markets while keeping Flint Hills Bank’s distinct community brands intact. Flint Hills Bank operates under its primary charter name in Eskridge, and also serves customers through three separately branded locations: Bank of Osage City in Osage City, Hartford State Bank in Hartford, and Bank of Burlingame in Burlingame. 

Each has cultivated a strong local identity in relationship-driven markets.

In a press release, executives at both banks emphasized cultural alignment and a shared focus on community banking as central to the deal.

“Our shared commitment to relationship banking and personalized service makes this merger a strong cultural fit,” said Darren Gragg, chairman, president and chief executive of Bennington State Bank. “This acquisition represents an exciting opportunity to expand in a market that shares our community bank mindset.”

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Gragg added that the bank looked forward to welcoming Flint Hills Bank’s employees and customers and building on the trust the institution has established in its communities.

Pat Wiederholt, chairman and chief executive of Flint Hills Bank, said the partnership would allow his bank to maintain its customer-focused approach while gaining access to greater resources.

“By joining forces with Bennington State Bank, we can continue delivering the high level of personal service our customers value, while gaining access to additional resources that support long-term growth and stability,” Wiederholt said.

Bennington State Bank, founded more than 138 years ago, has grown into a diversified financial services provider with more than $1.2 billion in assets. It operates locations in Bennington, Minneapolis, Salina, Lucas, Sylvan Grove, Wamego, Wichita, Abilene and Topeka, and offers consumer, agricultural and commercial banking, along with trust, wealth management, portfolio management and employee benefit services. The bank earned $19.5 million through Sept. 30, up from $14.9 million a year earlier, according to FDIC data.

The bank is also partly employee-owned, with more than 12% of its shares held through an employee stock ownership program.

Flint Hills Bank, by contrast, is a much smaller institution, with $154 million in assets. It earned $1.2 million in the first three quarters of 2025, compared with $1 million over the same period a year earlier. Despite its size, it has maintained a strong foothold in its communities by emphasizing local decision-making and personal service.

The transaction reflects a continuing trend in Kansas and other rural states, where mid-sized community banks seek to expand their geographic reach and achieve greater scale, even as they pledge to preserve the local character that distinguishes them from larger national lenders.

For customers in Eskridge, Osage City, Hartford and Burlingame, the banks said, day-to-day service is expected to remain grounded in the same relationship-based model, even as Flint Hills Bank becomes part of a larger organization.

“By joining forces with Bennington State Bank, we can continue delivering the high level of personal service our customers value, while gaining access to additional resources that support long-term growth and stability.”

– Pat Wiederholt
Chairman and Chief Executive
Flint Hills Bank