Equity Bank Named Diversity and Inclusion Award Winner By Wichita Business Journal


WICHITA, Kan., Sept. 20, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Equity Bank earned a 2019 Diversity and Inclusion Award from the Wichita Business Journal, presented annually by the leading business publication to 20 Wichita-based companies.

Equity Bank was recognized for its commitment to diversity in its employee base, hiring practices, corporate citizenship, and intentional development of programs committed to fostering an inclusive culture. Equity Bank also earned the honor in 2016.

“We’re pleased to receive a prestigious honor that recognizes the contributions of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds from throughout our Wichita and regional teams,” said Brad Elliott, Chairman and CEO of Equity Bancshares, parent company of Equity Bank. “A wide range of backgrounds and perspectives are crucial to maintaining our company’s core values, including entrepreneurial spirit and community support. We as a company owe thank you and appreciation to our team members, who continue to demonstrate outstanding dedication to growth and inclusion within each of our communities.”

The Wichita Business Journal cited Equity Bank’s top-down leadership approach to diversity, encouraging regional leaders to recruit team members from backgrounds and perspectives unique to communities, as well as promotion and participation in financial literacy efforts. During the hiring process, Equity Bank provides 1:1 mentorship and support for new hires to develop continued trust and understanding.

The Wichita Business Journal presented Equity Bank with its honor at a noon ceremony on Friday, September 20, 2019. Equity Bank has over 250 employees in Wichita and over 600 employees throughout its footprint.

Learn more about the Wichita Business Journal’s Diversity and Inclusion award winners at https://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/event/163144/2019/2019-diversity-and-inclusion-awards

About Equity Bank

Equity Bank is a $4-billion community bank with 52 bank locations throughout Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Equity Bank offers a full range of financial solutions, including commercial loans, consumer banking, mortgage loans, trust and wealth management services and treasury management services, while delivering the high-quality, relationship-based customer service of a community bank. Equity Bank’s parent company, Equity Bancshares, Inc., is the holding company for Equity Bank. Equity’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “EQBK.” Learn more at www.equitybank.com.

No Offer or Solicitation

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to sell, or the solicitation or an offer to buy any securities. There will be no sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirement of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Special Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  These forward-looking statements reflect the current views of Equity’s management with respect to, among other things, future events and Equity’s financial performance. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “predict,” “potential,” “believe,” “will likely result,” “expect,” “continue,” “will,” “anticipate,” “seek,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “goal,” “target,” “would” and “outlook,” or the negative variations of those words or other comparable words of a future or forward-looking nature.  These forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about Equity’s industry, management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by management, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond Equity’s control. Accordingly, Equity cautions you that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, assumptions and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Although Equity believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, actual results may prove to be materially different from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Equity’s expectations include competition from other financial institutions and bank holding companies; the effects of and changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve Board; changes in the demand for loans; fluctuations in value of collateral and loan reserves; inflation, interest rate, market and monetary fluctuations; changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; and acquisitions and integration of acquired businesses; and similar variables. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive.

For discussion of these and other risks that may cause actual results to differ from expectations, please refer to “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in Equity’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 20, 2019 and any updates to those risk factors set forth in Equity’s subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K. If one or more events related to these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if Equity’s underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may differ materially from what Equity anticipates. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and Equity does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict those events or how they may affect us. In addition, Equity cannot assess the impact of each factor on Equity’s business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements, expressed or implied, included in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This cautionary statement should also be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that Equity or persons acting on Equity’s behalf may issue.

Media Contact:

John J. Hanley
SVP, Director of Marketing
Equity Bancshares, Inc.
(816) 505-4063
jhanley@equitybank.com

Investor Contact:

Chris Navratil
SVP, Finance
Equity Bancshares, Inc.
(316) 612-6014
cnavratil@equitybank.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/362bd9b8-222f-4776-9c7b-a21a0295cc77

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4d791f1b-f498-4ff8-b449-98eb8f15f247

EQBK at Diversity Awards Equity Team