General Obligation Bonds, Series 2024 | $15,675,000 | 12/12/2023

Refunding and Construction Bonds, Series 2024 | $13,370,000 | 12/14/2023

The holidays should be a time of joy, not a season of falling victim to cyber threats. Stay vigilant to ensure a safe and festive ending to the year.

The deadline to spend any funds left in your 2023 Flexible Spending Account is fast approaching. Review your account balance now to avoid forfeiting unused funds and sacrificing potential reimbursement for qualifying out-of-pocket medical expenses.

Today, PE firms are aggressively seeking attractive middle market performance marketing agencies (firms delivering measurable actions taken by audience members) as platform investments, often with the goal of acquiring additional services, scale and specialties.

<strong><strong>Equity Bancshares, Inc. (NYSE:EQBK) has acquired Rockhold BanCorp., the parent company of Bank of Kirksville</strong></strong> | $44.3 Million | 12/06/2023

The Labor Department reported that <strong>initial jobless claims</strong> increased last week, although this seasonally adjusted index can be volatile on a holiday-shortened week. The biggest surprise was a surge in continuing claims, which are a proxy for the number of people receiving unemployment benefits, suggesting out-of-work Americans are finding it more difficult to secure new employment. Claims in regular state programs increased 7,000 to 218,000 from the prior week’s upwardly revised 211,000 for the week ending November 25th. The four-week moving average dropped to 220,000 from 220,500 the prior week. Continuing claims, which include people who have received unemployment benefits for a week or more, surged 86,000 to 1.927 million for the week ending November 18th.

Stephens, an independent financial services firm, today announced Jason J. Fair, CFP®, is joining the firm’s Private Wealth Management division as a Senior Vice President and Financial Consultant. Mr. Fair will be based in the firm’s Memphis, TN, office.