FNBO Expands its Presence in Kansas City
First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO) is set to acquire its second Kansas City-area bank in less than a year. The Nebraska-based company recently announced plans to purchase the $882 million-asset Blue Ridge Bancshares in Independence, Missouri, for an undisclosed sum. This acquisition follows the bank’s earlier purchase of the $2.2 billion-asset Country Club Bank in Kansas City, Missouri, in October 2021.
This move is part of FNBO’s strategic expansion plan, leveraging its status as one of the nation’s largest family-owned banks to acquire other similarly-structured institutions. The merger with Blue Ridge Bancshares is expected to make FNBO the fifth-largest deposit holder in the Kansas City metropolitan statistical area, holding about 3.6% of the region’s $99.6 billion deposit market.
Why Kansas City?
Kansas City is a growing market, both in terms of size and affluence. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of the Kansas City MSA surpassed 2.27 million in 2025, up from 2.19 million in 2020. Moreover, the region’s median household income expanded by 21% between 2020 and 2024 to $83,460.
Clark Lauritzen, FNBO’s chairman and president, sees this as an opportunity for growth. “We’re a big believer in this market, and we intend to invest more here in the years ahead,” he said. With the acquisition of Blue Ridge, FNBO is set to continue its growth in Kansas City.
About Blue Ridge Bancshares
Blue Ridge Bancshares is the holding company for Blue Ridge Bank & Trust. It was founded in 1958 by the Reich brothers, alongside the opening of the Blue Ridge Mall, one of the Midwest’s first suburban shopping centers, on a portion of their family’s vegetable farm near Independence. The bank, still controlled by the Reich family, has a strong community presence and a solid reputation.
Blue Ridge has been a profitable entity in recent years. According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC), in 2025 it reported a net income of $10.2 million and a return on assets of 1.22%, up from $9.2 million and 1.15% the previous year.
Impact of the Acquisition
This merger is expected to amplify the bank’s ability to help people acquire financial resources and realize their dreams. “This opportunity with FNBO only amplifies our ability to do just that,” Blue Ridge President and CEO Bill Esry said in a press release.
For FNBO, this acquisition is strategically significant. Lauritzen believes FNBO’s status as a family-owned bank gives it an advantage when negotiating with other family-owned institutions like Blue Ridge and Country Club. He looks forward to continuing to serve the customers and communities of these banks under the FNBO banner.
“Although it’s a transaction, it’s a sale, there’s a relationship that’s ongoing afterward that means their employers and customers are still part of a family-owned bank — albeit one with more resources,” Lauritzen said.
Looking ahead, FNBO’s vision is to remain a private, family-owned bank for the foreseeable future. The bank expects to complete the Blue Ridge deal before the end of 2026.
Source: Here
