LEGAL MATTERS	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
LEGAL MATTERS	NOTE 12 – LEGAL MATTERS The Company is party to various matters of litigation in the ordinary course of business. The Company periodically reviews all outstanding pending or threatened legal proceedings and determines if such matters will have an adverse effect on the business, financial condition or results of operations or cash flows. A loss contingency is recorded when the outcome is probable and reasonably able to be estimated. The following loss contingency has been identified by the Company as reasonably possible to result in an unfavorable outcome for the Company or the Bank. Equity Bank is a party to a February 3, 2015 lawsuit filed against it by CitiMortgage, Inc., (“Citi”). The lawsuit involves an alleged breach of contract related to loan repurchase obligations and damages of $2,700 plus pre-judgment and post-judgment interest. In January 2018, judgement was entered by the court dismissing Citi’s claims with regard to six loans and holding Equity Bank liable with regard to six loans. A loss contingency of $477 was recorded at December 31, 2017, in connection with this case. Subsequently, Citi appealed the courts decision. On November 6, 2019, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision affirming the trial court’s findings dismissing Citi’s claims with regard to six loans and holding Equity Bank liable with regard to six loans. Equity Bank has not yet determined to appeal the ruling. If not appealed by either party, Equity Bank will be required to satisfy the total judgment of $1,474, but shall be entitled to a reassignment of loans in which there is existing collateral. At the time of the January 2018 judgment, Citi held four loans with collateral having a total balance of $1,129. Except for the above mentioned lawsuit, there are no other outstanding claims for potential repurchase or indemnification demands regarding mortgage loans originated by Equity Bank and sold to investors. However, the Company believes there is possible risk it may face similar demands based on comparable demands loan aggregators are facing from their investors, including Government Sponsored Entities such as Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, and or settlement agreements loan aggregators have entered into with those investors. The amount of potential loss and outcome of such possible litigation, if it were commenced, is uncertain and the Company would vigorously contest any claims. Equity Bank is a party to a claim filed against it by a borrower and his wife. The lawsuit alleges the Bank violated the Equal Credit Opportunity Act when it obtained pledge agreements and control agreements from the borrower’s wife that made certain investment accounts and life insurance policies collateral for certain business loans. The borrowers seek return of collateral proceeds the Bank liquidated and used to pay down related business loan balances. The Bank does not believe the case has merit and is vigorously defending the claim. On May 13, 2019, a purported stockholder of the Company filed a putative securities class action lawsuit in federal court in the Southern District of New York against the Company and certain of its executive officers. On August 16, 2019, the court appointed lead plaintiffs and on October 15, 2019, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint on behalf of a putative class of persons who purchased Company securities between April 20, 2018 and April 23, 2019. Plaintiffs allege that the Company made materially misleading statements about the Company’s financial results, business, operations and prospects starting on April 20, 2018, that these statements caused the Company’s securities to be overvalued and that the “truth” came out on January 24, 2019, when the Company disclosed that a credit relationship was downgraded and further on April 22, 2019, when the Company disclosed a $14.5 million provision for loan loss against that credit relationship. The Company believes that the lawsuit is without merit and it intends to vigorously defend against all claims asserted. At this time, the Company is unable to reasonably estimate the outcome of this litigation.

LEGAL MATTERS

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

NOTE 12 – LEGAL MATTERS

The Company is party to various matters of litigation in the ordinary course of business. The Company periodically reviews all outstanding pending or threatened legal proceedings and determines if such matters will have an adverse effect on the business, financial condition or results of operations or cash flows. A loss contingency is recorded when the outcome is probable and reasonably able to be estimated. The following loss contingency has been identified by the Company as reasonably possible to result in an unfavorable outcome for the Company or the Bank.

Equity Bank is a party to a February 3, 2015 lawsuit filed against it by CitiMortgage, Inc., (“Citi”). The lawsuit involves an alleged breach of contract related to loan repurchase obligations and damages of $2,700 plus pre-judgment and post-judgment interest. In January 2018, judgement was entered by the court dismissing Citi’s claims with regard to six loans and holding Equity Bank liable with regard to six loans. A loss contingency of $477 was recorded at December 31, 2017, in connection with this case. Subsequently, Citi appealed the courts decision. On November 6, 2019, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision affirming the trial court’s findings dismissing Citi’s claims with regard to six loans and holding Equity Bank liable with regard to six loans. Equity Bank has not yet determined to appeal the ruling. If not appealed by either party, Equity Bank will be required to satisfy the total judgment of $1,474, but shall be entitled to a reassignment of loans in which there is existing collateral. At the time of the January 2018 judgment, Citi held four loans with collateral having a total balance of $1,129.

Except for the above mentioned lawsuit, there are no other outstanding claims for potential repurchase or indemnification demands regarding mortgage loans originated by Equity Bank and sold to investors. However, the Company believes there is possible risk it may face similar demands based on comparable demands loan aggregators are facing from their investors, including Government Sponsored Entities such as Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, and or settlement agreements loan aggregators have entered into with those investors. The amount of potential loss and outcome of such possible litigation, if it were commenced, is uncertain and the Company would vigorously contest any claims.

Equity Bank is a party to a claim filed against it by a borrower and his wife. The lawsuit alleges the Bank violated the Equal Credit Opportunity Act when it obtained pledge agreements and control agreements from the borrower’s wife that made certain investment accounts and life insurance policies collateral for certain business loans. The borrowers seek return of collateral proceeds the Bank liquidated and used to pay down related business loan balances. The Bank does not believe the case has merit and is vigorously defending the claim.

On May 13, 2019, a purported stockholder of the Company filed a putative securities class action lawsuit in federal court in the Southern District of New York against the Company and certain of its executive officers. On August 16, 2019, the court appointed lead plaintiffs and on October 15, 2019, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint on behalf of a putative class of persons who purchased Company securities between April 20, 2018 and April 23, 2019. Plaintiffs allege that the Company made materially misleading statements about the Company’s financial results, business, operations and prospects starting on April 20, 2018, that these statements caused the Company’s securities to be overvalued and that the “truth” came out on January 24, 2019, when the Company disclosed that a credit relationship was downgraded and further on April 22, 2019, when the Company disclosed a $14.5 million provision for loan loss against that credit relationship. The Company believes that the lawsuit is without merit and it intends to vigorously defend against all claims asserted. At this time, the Company is unable to reasonably estimate the outcome of this litigation.