Equity Bank Announces Hire of Richard M. Sems as President

WICHITA, Kan., May 03, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Equity Bancshares, Inc (“Equity”, “the Company”, “we”, “us”, “our”), the Wichita-based holding company of Equity Bank, announced the hire of Richard M. (“Rick”) Sems as President of Equity Bank (“the Bank”).

Mr. Sems will oversee all of Equity’s sales and service teams, including customer-facing resources, business lines, and leadership in commercial, retail, mortgage and trust. He will be a member of the Equity Bank Board of Directors.

“We are pleased to continue adding leadership and talent to our Equity Bank team. Rick’s track record and diverse banking experience will fit well with our entrepreneurial culture, and he will aid our agile and robust service and sales teams across business and consumer platforms in all our regions,” said Brad S. Elliott, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Equity Bancshares, Inc.

Mr. Sems most recently served as Chief Banking Officer for First Bank of St. Louis, Missouri, and worked for the company beginning in 2016 as President of First Bank’s Midwest Region. Mr. Sems’ experience includes developing impactful sales campaigns in retail and commercial banking, and leading First Bank’s COVID customer response, including Paycheck Protection Program implementation. He also led branch transformation and wealth management strategies while overseeing development of banking teams throughout the company.

Mr. Sems served in a variety of banking leadership roles for other financial institutions prior to joining First Bank. He earned his Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan and is a graduate of Grove City College. Mr. Sems will relocate to Wichita and begin working for Equity on May 15, 2023.

“Our mission is to deliver sophisticated and innovative products with the expert service and care of a hometown community bank and to serve as a home for experienced, motivated banking talent with a high degree of care for our customers,” said Mr. Elliott. “Rick will be a key leader for our Company teams and an outstanding resource for our communities.”

Equity also announced the resignation of current President Craig Anderson. Mr. Anderson served as President of the Bank since 2021. He helped the Company define and develop commercial sales strategies resulting in responsible loan and deposit growth during his tenure.

About Equity Bancshares, Inc.

Equity Bancshares, Inc. is the parent company of Equity Bank, offering a full range of financial solutions, including commercial loans, consumer banking, mortgage loans, and treasury management services. As of March 31, 2023, Equity had $5.1 billion in consolidated total assets, with full-service locations in Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, including corporate offices in Wichita.