STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2024

Equity [Abstract]

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

NOTE 7 – STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Preferred stock

The Company’s articles of incorporation provide for the issuance of shares of preferred stock. At June 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023, there was no preferred stock outstanding.

Common stock

The Company’s articles of incorporation provide for the issuance of 45,000,000 shares of Class A voting common stock (“Class A common stock”) and 5,000,000 shares of Class B non-voting common stock (“Class B common stock”), both of which have a par value of $0.01 per share.

The following table presents shares that were issued, held in treasury or were outstanding at June 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023.

	June 30, 2024			December 31, 2023
Class A common stock – issued		20,587,499			20,460,615
Class A common stock – held in treasury		(5,379,537	)		(5,016,964	)
Class A common stock – outstanding		15,207,962			15,443,651
Class B common stock – issued		234,903			234,903
Class B common stock – held in treasury		(234,903	)		(234,903	)
Class B common stock – outstanding		—			—

Treasury stock is stated at cost, determined by the first-in first-out method.

In 2019, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted the Equity Bancshares, Inc. 2019 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”). The ESPP enables eligible employees to purchase the Company’s common stock at a price per share equal to 85% of the lower of the fair market value of the common stock at the beginning or end of each offering period. ESPP compensation expense of $34 and $69 was recorded for the three and six months ended June, 2024. ESPP compensation expense of $38 and $77 was recorded for the three and six months ended June 2023. The following table presents the offering periods and costs associated with this program during the reporting period.

Offering Period	Shares Purchased		Cost Per Share		Compensation Expense
August 15, 2021 to February 14, 2022		14,274	$	27.37	$	69
February 15, 2022 to August 14, 2022		14,555		27.61		71
August 15, 2022 to February 14, 2023		17,508		26.18		81
February 15, 2023 to August 14, 2023		14,548		22.34		57
August 15, 2023 to February 14, 2024		16,884		21.79		65

In September of 2021, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock, from time to time, beginning October 29, 2021, and concluding October 28, 2022. The repurchase program did not obligate the Company to acquire a specific dollar amount or number of shares and it may be extended, modified or discontinued at any time without notice. Under this program, during the years ended December 31, 2022, and 2021, the Company repurchased a total of 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock at an average price paid of $32.11 per share.

In September of 2022, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 1,000,000 shares of the Company's outstanding common stock, from time to time, beginning October 1, 2022, and concluding on September 30, 2023. The repurchase program does not obligate the Company to acquire a specific dollar amount or number of shares and it could be extended, modified or discontinued at any time without notice. Under this program, during the years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022, the Company repurchased a total of 832,893 shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock at an average price paid of $27.89 per share.

On July 26, 2023, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a share repurchase plan for up to 1,000,000 shares of outstanding common stock beginning on October 1, 2023, and concluding on September 30, 2024. The repurchase program does not obligate the Company to acquire a specific dollar amount or number of shares, and it may be extended, modified or discontinued at any time without notice. Non-objection from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City related to this repurchase plan was received September 27, 2023. Under this program, during the six months ended June 30, 2024, the Company repurchased a total of 362,573 shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock at an average price paid of $32.71 per share. At June 30, 2024, there are 637,427 shares remaining available for repurchase under the program.

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

At June 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023, accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) consisted of (i) the after-tax effect of unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities and (ii) unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges.

Components of accumulated other comprehensive income as of June 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023, are listed below.

	Available-for- Sale Securities			Cash Flow Hedges			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
June 30, 2024
Net unrealized or unamortized gains (losses)	$	(84,629	)	$	3,163		$	(81,466	)
Tax effect		20,228			(767	)		19,461
	$	(64,401	)	$	2,396		$	(62,005	)
December 31, 2023
Net unrealized or unamortized gains (losses)	$	(77,548	)	$	839		$	(76,709	)
Tax effect		18,995			(206	)		18,789
	$	(58,553	)	$	633		$	(57,920	)