Financial Services Acquisitions in Georgia

Georgia Financial Services Deals

Acquisitions across Georgia’s financial services industry span multiple segments, including regional banking consolidations, wealth management and advisory roll-ups, employee benefits brokerage, and fintech platforms. Recent transactions show buyers using acquisitions to deepen local market presence—particularly around Atlanta and nearby corridors—while extending capabilities in lending, tax planning, retirement services, and employer-channel distribution.

On the banking side, deals include First Community Corporation acquiring Signature Bank of Georgia, and Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc. completing its merger with Synovus Financial Corp. These moves are framed around expanding branch and market footprint and adding or reinforcing banking services. Separately, fintech and services buyers such as PROG Holdings, Inc. and Foundation Source highlight how software-enabled offerings (like voluntary employee benefits and donor-advised funds) can be expanded through acquisition.

Advisory and brokerage transactions also recur in Georgia. Carson Group’s acquisition of Carson Wealth Milton and multiple additions by GCG Advisory Partners LLC reflect a steady theme: scaling wealth management and client-facing services via local office expansions, advisor partnerships, and integration into broader platforms.

What Stands Out

  • Georgia deal activity is concentrated around expanded regional footprint, with multiple transactions referencing Atlanta-area presence and statewide service reach.
  • Banking consolidation appears alongside non-bank moves—e.g., First Community Corporation/ Signature Bank of Georgia and Pinnacle Financial Partners / Synovus—with emphasis on branch and lending capability expansion.
  • Wealth management and advisory firms pursue both office additions and platform integration (e.g., Carson Group in Milton; OneDigital acquiring Signature Wealth Management Group).
  • Recurring buyer names point to repeat acquirers across different financial services subsegments, including GCG Advisory Partners LLC, Carson Group, OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC, and fintech/service providers.
  • Retirement services and employee benefits brokerage are part of the Georgia mix, including EdgeCo Holdings LP / AmericanTCS Holdings acquiring ERISApedia and Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. acquiring Sheila J. Butler & Company.
Buyer (examples) What’s being expanded Deal types shown
Carson Group Regional advisor and private client service access Wealth management acquisitions
First Community Corporation Branch network and SBA/USDA lending capabilities Bank consolidation
PROG Holdings, Inc. Employer-channel reach and financial wellness offerings Fintech / benefits platform acquisition
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Employee benefits consulting footprint Brokerage acquisition
  • Buyer
    Carson Group
    Target
    Carson Wealth Milton
    Type
    Buyout

    Carson Group has fully acquired its Carson Wealth location in Milton, Georgia, bringing the Milton, Atlanta and Dunwoody offices under a wholly owned structure. The move is intended to deepen Carson Group’s regional footprint in Georgia, expand client access to tax planning and private client services, and support advisor succession and future acquisitions across the Southeast.

  • Buyer
    First Community Corporation
    Target
    Signature Bank of Georgia
    Seller
    Shareholders of Signature Bank of Georgia
    Type
    Buyout

    First Community Corporation (Nasdaq: FCCO) closed its acquisition of Signature Bank of Georgia effective January 8, 2026, merging Signature Bank into First Community Bank. The deal, valued at approximately $50.0 million as of December 31, 2025, expands First Community’s branch network and market presence in the Midlands, Upstate and Piedmont regions of South Carolina and the Atlanta and Central Savannah River areas of Georgia while adding SBA/USDA lending capabilities.

  • Buyer
    MetroCity Bankshares, Inc.
    Target
    First IC Corporation
    Type
    Buyout

    MetroCity Bankshares, Inc. (MetroCity) completed its acquisition of First IC Corporation, the parent of First IC Bank, effective December 1, 2025. The deal combines two Doraville, Georgia-based banks and expands MetroCity's scale to approximately $4.8 billion in assets, 30 branches and operations across eight states.

  • Buyer
    Pinnacle Financial Corporation (parent of Pinnacle Bank), Morris State Bancshares (parent of Morris Bank)
    Target
    Morris State Bancshares (parent of Morris Bank), Pinnacle Financial Corporation (parent of Pinnacle Bank)
    Type
    Buyout

    Pinnacle Financial (parent of Pinnacle Bank) and Morris State Bancshares (parent of Morris Bank) have announced plans to merge under a definitive agreement. The combined organization will operate 35 branches across Georgia and be headquartered in Elberton, with Pinnacle shareholders owning about 54% and Morris shareholders about 46% following the share exchange and a special cash dividend to Morris shareholders.

  • Buyer
    OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC
    Target
    Signature Wealth Management Group
    Type
    Buyout

    OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC (a subsidiary of OneDigital) has acquired Signature Wealth Management Group (SWMG), a nine-person Atlanta-based wealth and retirement advisory firm that manages nearly 2,000 accounts. The deal expands OneDigital’s financial services capabilities in the South, strengthens its Atlanta presence, and integrates SWMG into OneDigital’s national platform; SWMG was represented by FP Transitions in the transaction.

  • Buyer
    Colony Bankcorp, Inc.
    Target
    TC Bancshares, Inc.
    Type
    Buyout

    Colony Bankcorp, Inc. agreed to acquire 100% of the common stock of TC Bancshares, Inc. in a combined stock-and-cash transaction valued at approximately $86.1 million. The merger is intended to create a stronger community banking franchise focused on enhanced customer service and expanded capabilities and is expected to close on or about December 1, 2025 after approvals.

  • Buyer
    EdgeCo Holdings LP, AmericanTCS Holdings, LLC (AmericanTCS / PensionPro)
    Target
    ERISApedia
    Seller
    Tim McCutcheon
    Type
    Addon

    EdgeCo Holdings LP has acquired ERISApedia and will integrate its products into the AmericanTCS PensionPro business unit to expand compliance and prospecting capabilities for plan sponsors, TPAs and retirement advisors. The deal, which involves ERISApedia owner Tim McCutcheon, furthers EdgeCo/AmericanTCS's strategy of expanding its retirement services offering.

  • Buyer
    Cadence Bank
    Target
    FCB Financial Corp.
    Type
    Buyout

    Cadence Bank signed a definitive merger agreement to acquire FCB Financial Corp., the bank holding company for First Chatham Bank, a community bank based in Savannah, Georgia. The merger was later completed on May 1, 2025, expanding Cadence’s presence in the Savannah and coastal Georgia markets.

  • Buyer
    GCG Advisory Partners LLC
    Target
    First Fidelity Financial Group of Atlanta
    Type
    Addon

    GCG Advisory Partners LLC has acquired First Fidelity Financial Group of Atlanta, a boutique financial advisory firm managing over $170 million in client assets. The deal expands GCG AP’s Atlanta footprint (adding ~ $400M+ in local client assets toward its ~$2.9B AUM) and brings the First Fidelity advisors into an equity partnership with GCG while maintaining client experience and platform relationships (notably with Osaic).

  • Buyer
    Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
    Target
    Sheila J. Butler & Company
    Type
    Buyout

    Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (Gallagher) acquired Sheila J. Butler & Company (SJB), an employee benefits brokerage based in Carrollton, Georgia. The SJB team will remain in place and integrate under Gallagher’s Southeast region employee benefits consulting operations to bolster Gallagher’s benefits consulting capabilities and footprint in Georgia; terms were not disclosed.

  • Buyer
    Foundation Source
    Target
    Vennfi
    Type
    Addon

    Foundation Source has acquired Vennfi, a financial-technology firm that powers the Charityvest donor-advised fund (DAF) platform. The acquisition adds turnkey DAF and workplace-giving capabilities to Foundation Source's suite of philanthropic software and services and will see Vennfi's management join Foundation Source to accelerate product deployment across wealth management and employer channels.

  • Buyer
    GCG Advisory Partners LLC
    Target
    Infinity Financial Partners LLC
    Type
    Buyout

    GCG Advisory Partners LLC has acquired Infinity Financial Partners LLC, a financial advisory firm managing over $230 million in client assets, adding a key office in the Atlanta area. The deal expands GCG AP’s total managed assets to more than $2.5 billion and strengthens its wealth-management capabilities, particularly in tax advice and succession planning.

  • Buyer
    TPG Growth
    Target
    Homrich Berg

    Homrich Berg, an Atlanta-based independent wealth management firm, announced a strategic minority investment from TPG Growth. The deal terms were undisclosed, with Homrich Berg’s management team remaining the largest shareholder group and retaining operational control.

  • Buyer
    OCMBC, Inc.
    Target
    HomeStar Financial Corporation
    Type
    Buyout

    OCMBC, Inc. completed the acquisition of HomeStar Financial Corporation, closing the deal on August 29, 2024. The deal expands OCMBC’s nationwide mortgage origination and servicing capabilities by adding HomeStar’s licensed mortgage banking operations based in Gainesville, Georgia.

  • Buyer
    Waverly Advisors, LLC
    Target
    Derbend Asset Management
    Type
    Addon

    Waverly Advisors, a fee-only RIA backed by Wealth Partners Capital Group and HGGC’s Aspire platform, has acquired Derbend Asset Management of Peachtree City, Georgia. The deal closed May 17, 2024, brings roughly $310 million of AUM onto Waverly's platform as its 20th office and increases Waverly's total AUM to approximately $11.9 billion.

  • Buyer
    United Bankshares, Inc.
    Target
    Piedmont Bancorp, Inc.
    Type
    Buyout

    United Bankshares entered into a definitive merger agreement to acquire Piedmont Bancorp, the parent company of The Piedmont Bank, in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $267 million. The deal received all required regulatory approvals, with the merger expected to close in early 2025 and Piedmont to merge into United.

  • Buyer
    BIP Wealth
    Target
    The Money Advisor Group, LLC
    Type
    Buyout

    Atlanta-based RIA BIP Wealth has signed an agreement to acquire The Money Advisor Group (TMAG), a Columbus, Georgia-based registered investment advisor that manages roughly $300 million in client assets. The deal, which closes May 22, 2024, expands BIP's geographic footprint into West Central Georgia and East Alabama and gives TMAG clients access to BIP's private market investment solutions and advanced planning capabilities.

  • Buyer
    BharCap Partners
    Target
    Red Oak Inventory Finance
    Seller
    ECN Capital
    Type
    Buyout

    BharCap Partners, a Greenwich, Connecticut-based private investment firm, has acquired Red Oak Inventory Finance in a carve-out transaction from ECN Capital. Red Oak is a U.S. commercial lender that provides floorplan and inventory financing solutions to manufacturers and dealers across the RV, marine and trailer industries; BharCap said the deal will combine Red Oak's market relationships with BharCap's financial services expertise to support growth and product innovation.

  • Buyer
    Delta Data, Terminus Capital Partners
    Target
    Phoenix Systems Inc.
    Type
    Addon

    Delta Data, a Terminus Capital Partners company, acquired Phoenix Systems Inc., a fintech provider of global mutual fund transfer agent, sub-accounting and trading software. The deal expands Delta Data’s product capabilities into fund trading and record-keeping and accelerates its international footprint across Europe, Australia, the Caribbean and Canada.

  • Buyer
    Savant Wealth Management
    Target
    Capital Directions
    Type
    Buyout

    Savant Wealth Management has acquired Atlanta-based Capital Directions, a registered investment adviser with approximately $3.3 billion in AUM and about 25 employees. The deal expands Savant's footprint (to 10 states and 26 offices) and strengthens its TAMP and retirement plan services; members of Capital Directions' ownership team will become significant equity owners in Savant.

  • Buyer
    MCAP Inc.
    Target
    QwickBonds
    Seller
    Monroe Financial Partners, Inc., QwickRate, LLC
    Type
    Buyout

    MCAP Inc. acquired the QwickBonds trading platform from Monroe Financial Partners, Inc. and its affiliate QwickRate, LLC. The deal adds a fixed-income trading marketplace and related application software to MCAP’s fintech product suite, expanding its capabilities and distribution to community banks, credit unions and institutional investors.

  • Buyer
    Mercer Global Advisors, Inc.
    Target
    Resource Planning Group, Ltd.
    Type
    Addon

    Mercer Global Advisors, Inc. (Mercer Advisors) has acquired Resource Planning Group, Ltd. (RPG), a comprehensive wealth management firm based in the Atlanta, Georgia area. The entire RPG team will join Mercer, expanding Mercer's Southeast presence and providing succession/business continuity for RPG's founders and clients (RPG manages roughly $325 million AUM across 330+ clients).

  • Buyer
    WA Asset Management
    Target
    BT Wealth Management
    Seller
    Bennett Thrasher, LLP
    Type
    Buyout

    WA Asset Management (WAAM), a Birmingham-based registered investment adviser, has acquired BT Wealth Management (BTWM), the wealth management division of Bennett Thrasher, LLP. The deal brings BTWM's 14-person team and approximately $1 billion in AUM into WAAM and establishes a strategic foothold for WAAM in Georgia (Atlanta and Savannah) to support further regional growth.

  • Buyer
    StoicLane
    Target
    Triserv Appraisal Management Solutions
    Type
    Addon

    StoicLane, a Chicago-based long-term growth platform focused on digitizing finance, insurance and real estate verticals, has acquired Triserv Appraisal Management Solutions, a nationwide appraisal management company serving banks, credit unions and mortgage bankers. StoicLane will provide capital, operational expertise and technology to accelerate Triserv's growth; the deal is the third investment by StoicLane's mortgage services affiliate.

  • Buyer
    Simplicity Group
    Target
    Buckhead Brokerage Group
    Type
    Addon

    Simplicity Group has acquired Georgia-based Buckhead Brokerage Group and welcomed its founder, Forrest Mitchell, as a new partner. The acquisition brings Buckhead’s insurance brokerage and underwriting expertise into Simplicity’s distribution partnership to expand capabilities and service offerings for independent advisors and their clients.

  • Buyer
    Homrich Berg
    Target
    Oakbridge Partners
    Type
    Buyout

    Homrich Berg (HB) announced it is expanding in metro Atlanta by acquiring Oakbridge Partners, a $1.5 billion fee-only RIA based in Buckhead. Upon closing, the firms expect combined assets under management of more than $13 billion, with Oakbridge’s principals and team joining HB.

  • Buyer
    The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
    Target
    GreenSky, Inc.
    Type
    Buyout

    Goldman Sachs completed its previously announced all-stock acquisition of GreenSky in a deal valued at approximately $2.24 billion. The transaction expands Goldman Sachs’ consumer banking platform, adding GreenSky’s cloud-native technology and merchant/consumer ecosystem for home improvement loan origination at point of sale.

  • Buyer
    Robins Financial Credit Union
    Target
    Persons Banking Company
    Type
    Buyout

    Robins Financial Credit Union has executed a definitive agreement to acquire Persons Banking Company, a state-chartered bank headquartered in Forsyth, Georgia. The deal is intended to expand Robins Financial’s footprint—particularly in Georgia’s commercial market—by adding Persons Banking’s commercial loan and deposit offerings and combined technology capabilities.

  • Buyer
    Venbrook Group, LLC
    Target
    Alpharetta Underwriters, LLC
    Type
    Buyout

    Venbrook Group, a Los Angeles-based insurance distribution and services holding company, acquired Alpharetta Underwriters, a specialty Managing General Agent (MGA) in Alpharetta, Georgia that provides Excess & Surplus (E&S) solutions for construction risks. The deal expands Venbrook's portfolio of E&S programs and strengthens its specialty underwriting capabilities for construction and contractor risks.

  • Buyer
    The Simplicity Group
    Target
    Keystone Benefit Group
    Type
    Buyout

    The Simplicity Group acquired Atlanta-based Keystone Benefit Group, a specialist executive benefit consulting firm focused on tax-exempt and healthcare organizations. With the closing (announced October 21, 2021), Keystone principals David Falkenstein, Jeff Milstead and Michael Falkenstein join Simplicity as partners as Keystone becomes the 31st company in the Simplicity group.

  • Buyer
    New Mountain Capital, New Mountain Strategic Equity I, L.P.
    Target
    Homrich Berg

    New Mountain Capital (via New Mountain Strategic Equity I, L.P.) has made a minority growth investment in Atlanta-based wealth management firm Homrich Berg to support ownership succession and accelerate the firm's growth and capability expansion. Homrich Berg’s founders and current owners retain majority ownership and will continue to operate the independent, fee-only RIA focused on high-net-worth individuals, families and institutions.

  • Buyer
    CoastalSouth Bancshares, Inc.
    Target
    Cornerstone Bancshares, Inc.
    Type
    Buyout

    CoastalSouth Bancshares, parent of Coastal States Bank, completed the acquisition of Cornerstone Bancshares, the parent of Cornerstone Bank, expanding Coastal States Bank's presence in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The deal increases CSB's deposit footprint in Atlanta to over $550 million and brings Cornerstone's three Atlanta branches and client base into CSB's community banking platform.

  • Buyer
    VyStar Credit Union
    Target
    Heritage Southeast Bank
    Seller
    Heritage Southeast Bancorporation, Inc.
    Type
    Buyout

    VyStar Credit Union signed a Definitive Purchase and Assumption Agreement to acquire Heritage Southeast Bank (HSB), a state-chartered bank headquartered in Jonesboro, Georgia. The deal will expand VyStar's branch network and membership in Georgia and is subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals, bringing VyStar's assets to approximately $12.5 billion when finalized.

  • Buyer
    Wealth Partners Capital Group, LLC, HGGC
    Target
    Merit Financial Group, LLC

    Merit Financial Group, a hybrid RIA based in Alpharetta, Georgia, received a strategic growth investment from Wealth Partners Capital Group (WPCG) and a group of supporting investors led by private equity firm HGGC. The capital and partnership will support Merit's organic growth and accelerate its M&A strategy to expand its national footprint and advisor partnerships; Merit's management entered into long-term employment agreements and the deal closed December 31, 2020.

  • Buyer
    Creative Planning Inc.
    Target
    TrueWealth
    Type
    Buyout

    Creative Planning Inc. has acquired Atlanta-based Registered Investment Adviser TrueWealth, which manages approximately $1.6 billion in assets. The deal expands Creative Planning's presence in Atlanta and adds TrueWealth's team of advisors and client relationships to Creative's national wealth management platform.

  • Buyer
    Group of investors including management
    Target
    DolEx Dollar Express, Inc.
    Seller
    Palladium Equity Partners, LLC

    Palladium Equity Partners has completed the sale of the parent company of DolEx Dollar Express, Inc. to a group of investors that includes company management. DolEx, a Duluth, Georgia-based provider of remittance and retail financial services operating roughly 525 branches and over 2,700 agent locations across the U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Europe, was sold with terms undisclosed; Stephens Inc. advised DolEx while Advanced Capital Partners advised the acquiring investors.

  • Buyer
    Vital Recovery Services (VRS), Fusion BPO Group
    Target
    Nations Recovery Center
    Seller
    Nations Recovery Center

    Vital Recovery Services (VRS), a Fusion BPO Group company, has acquired the client portfolio of Nations Recovery Center (NRC). The deal transfers NRC's debt-collection clients across banking, commercial, medical and retail sectors to VRS as part of VRS/Fusion's ongoing growth-through-acquisition strategy.

  • Buyer
    Lightyear Capital LLC, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan
    Target
    Lendmark Financial Services, LLC
    Seller
    The Blackstone Group
    Type
    Buyout

    Investment funds affiliated with Lightyear Capital and the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan agreed to acquire Lendmark Financial Services from private equity funds managed by The Blackstone Group. The senior management team will remain in leadership and as shareholders; the transaction was expected to close in H2 2019 subject to regulatory approvals.

  • Buyer
    Bonaccord Capital Partners (BCP), Aberdeen Standard Investments (ASI)
    Target
    MSouth Equity Partners

    Bonaccord Capital Partners (a division of Aberdeen Standard Investments) acquired a passive, non-voting minority stake in MSouth Equity Partners to provide capital supporting the firm’s future growth and strategic initiatives. Terms were not disclosed; the investment is intended as a long-term, non-control partnership and BCP will not participate in MSouth’s operating or investment decisions.

  • Buyer
    Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC (MMA)
    Target
    J. Smith Lanier & Co.
    Type
    Buyout

    Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC (MMA), the middle-market agency subsidiary of Marsh, signed a definitive agreement to acquire J. Smith Lanier & Co. (JSL). JSL will operate as MMA's Southeast regional hub, with all ~600 employees joining MMA; the deal (terms undisclosed) was expected to close in Q1 2017.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What kinds of financial services acquisitions are happening in Georgia?

Recent Georgia deals include regional banking mergers, wealth and retirement advisory acquisitions, employee benefits brokerage buys, and fintech platform acquisitions (such as voluntary employee benefits and donor-advised fund software).

Are acquisitions concentrated around Atlanta?

Many transactions reference Atlanta-area presence or Georgia statewide expansion that includes Atlanta. Examples include Carson Group’s Milton expansion and advisory and brokerage deals based in the Atlanta area.

Which buyers show up repeatedly in Georgia financial services acquisitions?

Recurring names in the Georgia activity include GCG Advisory Partners LLC, Carson Group, OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC, and other firms listed on the page, reflecting repeat acquirers across advisory, wealth, and broader financial services.

Do the deals focus only on wealth management, or other financial segments too?

They go beyond wealth management. The page also includes bank consolidation (e.g., First Community Corporation and Pinnacle Financial Partners), retirement compliance/prospecting tools (via ERISApedia), and employee benefits brokerage (via Sheila J. Butler & Company).

Related Acquisition Pages