Empire Bancshares Inc

Name

Empire Bancshares Inc

Legal name

Empire Bancshares, Inc.

Website

https://thb.bank

Company type

Private

Founded year

1901

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Banking

NAICS

Offices of Bank Holding Companies (551111), Commercial Banking (52211), Depository Credit Intermediation (5221)

SIC

State Commercial Banks (6022)

akta.pro primary industry

SME Deposits & Business Accounts (Operating, Savings, CDs) (FSABABAC)

Keywords

• Community banking services
• Personal deposit accounts
• Business deposit accounts
• Agricultural lending
• Mortgage and consumer loans

Headquarters

HQ city

Hicksville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Interest Income: The primary revenue stream comes from interest earned on loans (mortgages, personal loans, business loans, agricultural loans) and investment securities. The bank reported Q1 2026 net interest margin of 3.06%, expanded 29 basis points from 2.77% in Q4 2025.
2. Deposit Fees and Service Charges: Monthly maintenance fees, transaction fees, and service charges on checking and savings accounts. Fees vary by account type with requirements to waive fees.
3. Loan Fees: Fees associated with loan origination, servicing, and related banking services including wire transfers, safe deposit boxes, and official checks.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Empire Bancshares Inc is the bank holding company of The Hicksville Bank, a community bank founded in 1901 that provides FDIC-insured personal and business deposit accounts, savings and CD products, residential and consumer mortgage loans, business and agricultural lending, plus Visa credit cards and debit cards on the Mastercard network. Services are delivered across four branches in Ohio and Indiana and through online, mobile, and telephone banking channels, supported by local credit decision-making and government-backed SBA/FSA loan programs.

Product overview

The Hicksville Bank operates as a community bank subsidiary of Empire Bancshares, Inc., offering a comprehensive suite of personal and business banking products. Personal banking includes five checking account tiers (Hometown Checking, Choice Checking, Get Started Choice Checking, Super NOW Checking, and Value Plus Checking), four savings options (Regular, Power, Hometown Savings, and Christmas Club), Certificates of Deposit with IRA options, mortgage and consumer lending, home equity products, auto and student loans, Visa credit cards through TCM Bank partnership, and debit/ATM cards on the Mastercard network. Business banking encompasses four checking variants, business savings and CDs, agricultural lending, commercial real estate financing, SBA and FSA loans, business lines of credit, and term loans. Digital banking channels include online and mobile banking with bill pay, Ecorp for business users, mobile deposit, Manage My Cards, Positive Pay fraud protection, and TransferNow inter-bank transfers. The bank also offers safe deposit boxes, wire transfers, and financial planning tools. The bank serves four locations in Ohio and Indiana with local decision-making supported by modern technology platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hometown Checking Everyday personal checking with no minimum balance, free paper statements, and local support. Includes a free money order, free cashier's check, first 40 checks free, photocopies per month, and a free small lockbox for 1 year.
• Choice Checking Fee-free personal checking with eStatements, 8+ debit card purchases per cycle and direct deposit or automatic debit required. Includes mobile deposit, unlimited checks, and ATM access.
• Get Started Choice Checking Student checking account for ages 16-23 with zero monthly fees, unlimited transactions, instant debit alerts, and spending controls.
• Super NOW Checking Interest-bearing checking requiring $1,000 opening deposit and minimum balance. Pays interest on collected funds while providing debit card convenience and unlimited transactions.
• Value Plus Checking Premium tiered-rate checking with $2,500 opening and minimum balance. Interest rates escalate as balance grows, with full access to funds.
• Regular Savings Basic interest-bearing savings with $300 minimum, 0.05% APY, ATM card access, and fee waivers for minors, students, and seniors 62+.
• Power Savings High-yield savings requiring $2,500 minimum balance, paying a top consumer rate with unlimited deposits and six free monthly transfers.
• Hometown Savings Premium tiered-yield savings requiring $10,000 new money or $25,000 in existing THB deposits, with rates from 1.00% to 2.35% APY across balance tiers.
• Christmas Club Automated holiday savings account with $1 minimum opening deposit, automatic deposits throughout the year, and an annual check mailed by November 1.
• Certificates of Deposit Fixed-term CDs with terms from 91 days to 60 months, including youth CDs at $100 minimum. Featured rates include 9-Month 3.50% APY, 17-Month 3.55% APY, 23-Month 3.25% APY ($10,000 min), 25-Month 3.60% APY, all at $500 minimum where applicable.
• IRA CDs Retirement CDs in Traditional, Roth, or SEP variants with terms up to 48 months, separate FDIC coverage up to $250,000, and easy 401(k) rollover support.
• Mortgage Loans Fixed or adjustable rate home loans with competitive rates, automatic payment, and down payment assistance programs, with local decisions at Hicksville, Auburn, Edgerton, and Grabill.
• Home Equity Line of Credit Revolving credit line secured by home equity, drawable for remodels, tuition, or emergency needs with flexible access.
• Second Mortgage Home equity loan allowing borrowers to tap equity for home additions, college, or debt consolidation without modifying their first mortgage.
• Residential Construction Loan Construction financing handled start-to-finish by local lenders in Ohio and Indiana, with seamless conversion to a permanent long-term mortgage at completion.
• Consumer Loans Unsecured personal loans for RVs, motorcycles, boats, vacations, or other purposes with quick decisions, flexible terms, and custom payment due dates.
• Auto Loans Vehicle financing for new, used, or refinancing with pre-approval available before shopping and no hidden dealership mark-ups.
• Student Loans Flexible student and parent loan funding through a College Ave partnership for undergraduate, graduate, and refinancing, closing the gap between financial aid and tuition.
• Visa Credit Cards Rewards, cashback, and travel Visa credit cards issued through partnership with TCM Bank, N.A., featuring competitive rates, fraud monitoring, chip security, and zero fraud liability.
• Debit/ATM Cards Mastercard-branded debit cards with EMV chip, $1,000 daily purchase and $400 ATM limits, fraud monitoring with real-time two-way text alerts, and zero liability protection.
• Regular Business Checking Basic business checking with $500 minimum, fee-waived for non-profits, free eStatements, and business debit card access.
• Interest Business Checking Interest-bearing business checking requiring $1,000 minimum with unlimited debit card purchases, bill pay, and mobile deposit.
• Value Plus Business Checking Premium business rewards checking with tiered interest rates that rise with balance, targeting higher-balance customers seeking elevated earnings.
• Value Pro Business Checking High-balance tiered business checking with ascending interest rates and free paper statements for simplified record-keeping.
• Business Savings Tiered business savings (Regular, Power, Hometown) with competitive rates competing with leading Ohio and Indiana institutions.
• Agricultural Loans Seasonal-to-season financing for farmers with flexible terms on land, equipment, and operating inputs (seed, feed, crop expenses), with ag lenders who understand farming cycles.
• Commercial Real Estate Loans Community bank funding for purchasing, building, or refinancing business property with competitive rates, adaptive repayment schedules, and in-house approvals.
• Business Lines of Credit Revolving working-capital line that businesses can draw, repay, and redraw as cash-flow needs change, with interest accruing only on outstanding balance.
• SBA Loans Small Business Administration-backed financing combined with personalized hometown guidance, featuring lower equity requirements and longer maturities for improved cash flow.
• Term Loans Fixed-payment funding for equipment, vehicles, or technology with repayment schedules matched to asset life cycles and optional automatic payment from business checking.
• FSA Loans Government-backed FSA beginning-farmer loans, including Joint Financing (50% bank/50% FSA) and Down Payment Loans (50% bank/45% FSA/5% down) for family-sized farm purchases.
• Online Banking with Bill Pay Secure online banking platform for viewing accounts, transferring funds, and paying bills with single-login access.
• Mobile Banking Account-management mobile application enabling banking anytime, anywhere, including mobile check deposit.
• Ecorp Online Banking Business-specific online banking platform with secure access, transfers, payments, and detailed reporting for business account management.
• Positive Pay Fraud-prevention service that automatically verifies checks and ACH payments to prevent unauthorized transactions.
• Merchant Capture Deposit Remote deposit capture enabling businesses to scan and deposit checks directly to THB using a scanner and computer.
• Safe Deposit Box Secure storage for valuables and important documents protected from fire or theft, available at any branch location.
• Wire Transfer Domestic and international wire transfer services for quick, secure fund movement.

Quantifiable outcome

• Q1 2026 net income increased 68% to $1.1 million from $660 thousand in Q4 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and strategic.

• TCM Bank, N.A.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party partnership for Visa credit card issuance. TCM Bank provides credit card products including rewards, cash back, and travel cards that are offered through The Hicksville Bank to its customers.
• College AveminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStudent loan partnership for filling tuition gaps. Referrals to College Ave for undergraduate and graduate student loans, as well as student loan refinancing options.
• CDARS (Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service)coreTechnology or IntegrationCDARS network allows deposit coverage beyond standard $250,000 FDIC limits through multi-million dollar FDIC insurance. Customers work with THB while deposits are placed across network banks.
• MoneyPasscoreTechnology or IntegrationNationwide surcharge-free ATM network providing access to over 40,000 ATMs. THB debit cards work at MoneyPass ATMs without additional fees.
• MastercardcoreTechnology or IntegrationDebit Mastercard issuance for debit card acceptance worldwide at merchant locations and ATMs.
• Interra Credit UnionstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterra Credit Union and The Hicksville Bank have entered into an agreement to join forces. The Hicksville Bank will soon become part of Interra, representing a strategic merger that will expand services and reach.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Heartland Bank: Ohio-based community bank serving central Ohio with similar deposit, mortgage, and small-business banking products. Comparable scale and community banking orientation in overlapping Ohio markets.
• LCNB Corp: Ohio-based bank holding company (LCNB Financial) operating community bank subsidiaries with comparable consumer and small-business banking focus in southwestern Ohio. Similar asset size, community bank economics, and branch-based distribution model.
• German American Bank: Indiana-headquartered community bank with comparable agricultural and small-business lending emphasis in rural Indiana markets. Similar relationship-driven commercial banking model and roughly comparable asset scale.
• Lake City Bank: Indiana-based community bank operating a similar relationship-driven model across multiple Indiana communities. Comparable in scale, product mix, and focus on small-business and agricultural lending, making it the closest direct comparable for Empire Bancshares' franchise.
• Peoples Bancorp: Ohio-based bank holding company operating community bank subsidiaries across Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky. Similar product mix (deposits, mortgages, commercial loans) and community banking approach in overlapping Ohio geography.

Broad incumbents

• First Financial Bank: Large Indiana/Ohio regional bank with deep community banking heritage and similar product offering. Overlaps with Empire's footprint in Indiana and Ohio markets but operates at significantly greater scale across multiple states.
• Old National Bancorp: Large Indiana-headquartered bank holding company with extensive community banking operations across the Midwest, including overlap with Empire's Indiana footprint. Far larger scale but comparable product set and customer segments.
• First Merchants Corporation: Indiana-based bank holding company with community banking subsidiaries serving Indiana, Ohio, and adjacent Midwest markets. Larger and more geographically diversified than Empire but with overlapping commercial and consumer banking products.

Others

• Interra Credit Union: The announced merger partner for The Hicksville Bank, an Indiana-based credit union. Included as an ecosystem/strategic participant given the pending transaction rather than a direct operating competitor pre-merger.

Regional players

• First Internet Bancorp: Indiana-based bank holding company operating primarily through digital channels with consumer and commercial banking products. Adjacent competitive threat illustrating the digital-banking alternative to Empire's branch-centric model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheHicksvilleBank

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Empire Bancshares Inc