Federal Reserve Opens Comment Period for First Bancorp Acquisition

The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System published a notice (FR Doc 2026-18058, Vol. 91, No. 170, Sep. 3, 2026) announcing applications for formations, acquisitions, and mergers of bank holding companies under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1841 et seq.) and Regulation Y (12 CFR part 225). The public portions of each application are available for immediate inspection at the Federal Reserve Bank(s) identified in the notice and at the Board's offices.

The notice lists a single application: First Bancorp, Southern Pines, North Carolina, seeks approval to acquire First Carolina Bancshares Corporation, Florence, South Carolina, and thereby indirectly acquire Carolina Bank & Trust Company, Lamar, South Carolina. The Board will evaluate the request against the standards enumerated in the BHC Act (12 U.S.C. 1842(c)).

Comments must be received by Oct. 5, 2026 at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, P.O. Box 27622, Richmond, Virginia 23261, addressed to Brent B. Hassell, Assistant Vice President, or electronically to the protected e-mail address provided. Comments may also be mailed to Benjamin W. McDonough, Secretary of the Board, 20th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20551-0001. The Board's Associate Secretary, Michele Taylor Fennell, signed the notice.

All comments are subject to public disclosure; the Board will not alter them to remove personal, business, or confidential identifying information, though submitters should avoid including information that would be inappropriate for public release. Expedited copies of the filings can be requested through the Board's Freedom of Information Office at https://www.federalreserve.gov/foia/request.htm.

The Board will consider the application in accordance with the BHC Act and applicable regulations, and will issue a decision after the comment period closes.