Esquire Financial Acquires Signature Bancorporation in $348.4M Deal

Merger expands Esquire's Chicago banking presence and diversifies its revenue streams.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 4:06am

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Esquire Financial Holdings announced a definitive agreement to acquire Signature Bancorporation in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $348.4 million. The merger will combine Esquire's national litigation-focused banking platform with Signature's established Midwest commercial banking franchise, creating a combined institution with roughly $4.8 billion in assets at closing.

Why it matters

The acquisition gives Esquire a strong entry point into Chicago, the third-largest metropolitan area in the United States and one of the nation's largest legal markets. Signature's commercial banking operations and core deposit base will complement Esquire's specialized lending capabilities, particularly its litigation-focused financial services platform.

The details

Under the terms of the agreement, Signature shareholders will receive 2.63 shares of Esquire common stock for each Signature share. The transaction is expected to be approximately 23% accretive to Esquire's GAAP earnings per share in 2027 and about 11% accretive to tangible book value. The deal assumes modest cost savings of around 5%, with most of the expected value driven by growth opportunities and operational performance.

  • The transaction has been approved by the boards of both companies and remains subject to regulatory approvals and shareholder consent.
  • The companies expect the deal to close in the third quarter of 2026.

The players

Esquire Financial Holdings

A financial holding company that operates Esquire Bank, a national litigation-focused bank serving the legal industry, small businesses, and commercial clients.

Signature Bancorporation

The parent company of Signature Bank, a relationship-driven commercial bank serving middle-market businesses across sectors such as legal, healthcare, manufacturing, technology, and professional services.

Andrew C. Sagliocca

Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Esquire Financial Holdings.

Michael G. O'Rourke

Co-Founder, Director, Chief Executive Officer and President of Signature Bancorporation.

Leonard S. Caronia

Chairman of Signature Bancorporation.

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What they’re saying

“Signature's leadership in the attractive Chicago market, best-in-class management team, and exceptional core funding provide Esquire with a strong platform for continued growth and expansion in the country's third largest metropolitan area or MSA and one of the nation's largest legal markets. This merger is compelling on multiple levels.”

— Andrew C. Sagliocca, Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer And President, Esquire Financial Holdings

“We are excited to announce a partnership that will benefit both institutions, our clients, and our shareholders, while also positioning us to work together towards the next chapter of our combined organization's legacy.”

— Michael G. O'Rourke, Co-Founder, Director, Chief Executive Officer And President, Signature Bancorporation

What’s next

The transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals and shareholder consent, with the companies expecting the deal to close in the third quarter of 2026.

The takeaway

The merger of Esquire Financial and Signature Bancorporation will create a stronger, more diversified banking institution with a greater presence in the Chicago market, one of the nation's largest legal and commercial hubs.