Baton Rouge, La.-based Business First Bancshares is acquiring financial consulting firm American Planning Corporation. .The American Planning Corporation team is expected to join b1BANK affiliate Smith Shellnut Wilson. The company was founded in 1972 and advises community banks through outsourced CFO services. As of March 31, Business First Bancshares had nearly $9 billion in assets. Smith Shellnut Wilson manages $5.7 billion in assets.The deal expands Smith Shellnut Wilson’s platform into “a comprehensive suite of strategic advisory services,” said Jude Melville, chair, president and CEO of Business First Bancshares. "We've worked together since our founding twenty years ago, and I have complete confidence that by formally joining forces, we will amplify the positive impact Jeff already has had on the community banking industry," Melville said.
