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Written By Regent Bank

Regent Capital Corporation Announces Strategic Merger With DLP Bancshares

Regent Capital Corporation Announces Strategic Merger With DLP Bancshares
Company Release – April 25, 2025

Tulsa, OK & Starke, FL.–(BUSINESS WIRE)— Regent Capital Corporation, the parent company of Regent Bank, and DLP Bancshares, Inc., the parent company of DLP Bank, announced today the signing of a definitive merger agreement under which Regent would acquire DLP Bancshares in an all-stock transaction.

After the closing of the transaction, DLP Bank and Regent Bank will operate as separate community banks, both owned by Regent Capital Corporation. The combined organization is expected to have approximately $2 billion in total assets, $1.8 billion in deposits, $1.6 billion in loan and leases, 8 full-service branches and three loan production offices in four states, Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, and Florida. Three DLP Bank board members plan to join Regent Capital Corporation and Regent Bank’s boards, each of which will maintain a 10-member board.

“We are honored to partner with a high-quality organization that aligns so well with our culture and accelerates our strategic priorities,” said Regent Bank Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Sean Kouplen. “DLP Bank brings a tremendous investor base for future growth capital, a strong core deposit base and a loan mix that increases the diversification of our loan portfolio. The central and northeast Florida markets are an excellent complement to our existing rapidly growing markets in Oklahoma, southwest Missouri and north Texas.”
“We also look forward to welcoming the outstanding team members of DLP Bank,” added Kouplen. “Together we can expand our focus on providing responsive client service, the best place to work, and innovative banking solutions in all of our markets.”

Founded in 1957, DLP Bank operates three full-service branches in Florida serving the Starke, Lake Butler and Interlachen communities in addition to an office in St Augustine, Florida. As of December 31, 2024, DLP Bank had $247 million in total assets, $201 million in deposits, and $114 million in loans and leases. DLP Bancshares was founded by the principals of DLP Capital, a $5.25 billion private real estate investment firm with over 3,500 nationwide investors.

“Regent’s exceptional corporate culture and focus on client service make it an ideal partner for our bank, employees and clients,” said DLP Bank Chairman, Bob Peterson. “We believe Regent can leverage the strengths of DLP Bank to magnify the continued growth of both organizations.”

The vision forward is for both organizations to work closely together to continue their impressive growth through a four-pronged approach of best-in-class community banking, private banking, business banking, and real estate lending.

The transaction has been unanimously approved by each company’s board of directors. The transaction is expected to close during the third quarter of 2025, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

D.A. Davidson & Co. served as financial advisor, and McAfee & Taft served as legal counsel to Regent Capital Corporation. Ballard Spahr served as legal counsel to DLP Bancshares.

About Regent

Regent Capital Corporation is a Oklahoma-based bank holding company. Regent Bank is a premier, full-service bank dedicated to serving the diverse needs of entrepreneurs, business clients, medical professionals and local families. By pairing a range of banking, mortgage, insurance and wealth management solutions with a responsive service model, Regent has seen continuous growth and profitability. With total assets approaching $1.8 billion, five branches and three loan production offices as of December 31, 2024, Regent has received numerous awards for its industry-leading growth, community leadership and exemplary corporate culture.

About DLP Bank

DLP Bank is a locally owned and operated financial institution headquartered in Starke, FL. Founded in 1957, the bank operates three full-service branches offering a wide variety of deposit, lending, other financial products and services to customers in and around central and northeast Florida. The bank boasts a low cost of funds, tremendous community involvement and is an Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Company.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements concerning plans, estimates, calculations, forecasts and projections with respect to the anticipated future performance of Regent Capital Corporation, Regent Bank, and DLP Bank. These statements are often, but not always, identified by words such as “may”, “might”, “should”, “could”, “predict”, “potential”, “believe”, “expect”, “continue”, “will”, “anticipate”, “seek”, “estimate”, “intend”, “plan”, “projection”, “would”, “annualized”, “target” and “outlook”, or the negative version of those words or other comparable words of a future or forward-looking nature.

Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: the possibility that any of the anticipated benefits of the proposed merger will not be realized or will not be realized within the expected time period; the parties’ inability to meet expectations regarding the timing of the proposed merger; the challenges of integrating and retaining key employees; the risk that integration of DLP Bank’s operations with those of Regent Bank will be materially delayed or will be more costly or difficult than expected; changes to tax legislation and their potential effects on the accounting for the proposed merger; the failure of the proposed Merger to close for any reason, including the failure to satisfy other conditions to completion of the proposed Merger, including receipt of required regulatory and other approvals; diversion of management’s attention from ongoing business operations and opportunities due to the proposed merger; the effect of the announcement of the proposed merger on Regent Capital Corporation’s, DLP Bancshares’ or the combined company’s respective customer and employee relationships and operating results; the possibility that the proposed merger may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events; changes in the global economy and financial market conditions and the business, results of operations and financial condition of Regent Capital Corporation, DLP Bancshares, Inc. and the combined company.

Any forward-looking statement made by us in this presentation is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Regent undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. Certain of the information contained in this presentation is derived from information provided by industry sources. Although Regent believes that such information is accurate and that the sources from which it has been obtained are reliable, Regent cannot guarantee the accuracy of, and have not independently verified, such information.

Regent Media Contact:

Sean Kouplen | Chairman & CEO
[email protected]
918.237.4887

DLP Bank Contact:

Bob Peterson | Chairman
[email protected]
904.463.4045

Source: Regent Capital Corporation