SC-based Citizens Bancshares completes acquisition of Sandhills Holding

Citizens Bancshares Corp., the parent company of Citizens Bank, completed its acquisition of Sandhills Holding Co. Inc., the holding company of Sandhills Bank.

On a pro forma basis, the combined company is expected to have over $1 billion in total assets, including more than $500 million in total loans and nearly $900 million in total deposits as of Dec. 31, 2021, following merger completion.

Citizens Bank will now have 24 banking offices and a loan production office throughout the eastern part of South Carolina.

Until the completion of bank systems conversion, scheduled for the weekend of July 22 through July 25, Citizens Bank will be conducting a portion of its business under the assumed trade name "Sandhills Bank," according to a July 1 news release.

All Sandhills Bank branches will fully open as Citizens Bank on July 25.