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At one point, Kurt Knutson, the founder, chairman and CEO of $202 million Freedom Bancshares, thought he was a buyer. Management had a top 10 list of banks, mostly in rural markets, it considered to be good candidates for a merger. Knutson met with some of these institutions and over time, even refined Freedom’s list of good takeover targets. That changed after the Covid-19 pandemic hit, which delayed M&A activity. In 2022, Overland Park, Kansas-based Freedom went through its strategic options again, and this time, decided to become a seller. The bank had conversations with 11 interested acquirers, which was…
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WRITTEN BY
Jackie Stewart
Executive Editor
Jackie Stewart is the Executive Editor of Bank Director. She is responsible for writing and editing features for the company’s weekly newsletter and quarterly print magazine and oversees sponsored research reports. Jackie is particularly interested in community banking and M&A activity. She previously served in a number of reporter and editor roles with American Banker, including executive editor of American Banker Magazine. She has also covered retirement issues for Kiplinger and spent two years teaching middle school literacy in the Bronx, New York, through Teach For America.