Aug. 18--First Financial Bancshares, Lawrence, announced its purchase of Great American Bank in De Soto on July 31 from Enterprise Financial Services Corp. in St. Louis.

Travis Hicks will act as president and CEO, and Douglas Compton is chairman of the board.

The bank will focus on community banking and consumer and commercial lending in the De Soto and Johnson County markets.

First Financial Bancshares acquired Lawrence Bank in January 2006 and, with the acquisition of Great American Bank, is a multibank holding company with about $110 million in assets.

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