South Dakota banks to merge

South Dakota Bancshares, Pierre, S.D., will acquire First State Bank, Armour, S.D., later this year..The $113 million First State Bank, which has branches in Armour, Delmont, Geddes and Tripp, S.D., will become a part of South Dakota Bancshares' BankWest once the deal is completed, most likely in the third quarter..The $915 million BankWest currently has 13 branches; they are in Gregory, Kadoka, Kennebec, Mitchell, Onida, Pierre, Rapid City, Selby, Vivian and Winner, S.D. It also has stand-alone insurance offices in Salem, Presho, Murdo and Spearfish, S.D.."First State Bank is simply an exceptional bank and an organization that we have always respected," said Charles H. Burke III, BankWest chairman, CEO and president. "Their leadership and employees have upheld the values and ideals of community banking and we see this as an outstanding partnership between our organizations. BankWest has served a variety of businesses and individuals in communities very similar to First State Bank and we are very confident of our ability to provide excellent customer service to the area."