Union State’s RelianzBank acquisition takes effect July 1

On Wednesday, RelianzBank will be no more.

That’s the day the $51 million Wichita-based bank, founded nearly 10 years ago, will be absorbed into Union State Bank. The acquisition was first announced in February.

As part of the merger, RelianzBank’s single office at 2327 N. Ridge will become the west Wichita branch of Arkansas City-based Union State.

RelianzBank founder and CEO David Harris will join Union State as Kansas regional president and take a seat on Union State’s board of directors.

Eric Kurtz, Union State’s president and CEO, said Monday that temporary Union State signs will go up on the RelianzBank office on Wednesday as well. And on July 11, its computer systems will be converted to Union State’s systems, which will result in a daylong closure of the branch.

Union State has $260 million in assets and branches in Arkansas City, Winfield and Udall. It also has loan production offices in Wichita, at 10111 E. 21st, and in Bartlesville, Okla.

Kurtz said plans call for Union State later this year to seek regulatory approval to convert its east Wichita loan office to a full-service branch. Union State opened the Wichita loan office in 2011.

He said Wichita is an important growth market for Union State, hence its branch plans and the RelianzBank acquisition.

“We’re anxious to get rolling with the Relianz staff … and really getting after it,” Kurtz said.

All nine RelianzBank employees will be joining Union State, he said.

This story was originally published June 29, 2015 at 5:46 PM with the headline "Union State’s RelianzBank acquisition takes effect July 1."