Catalyst Bancorp Acquires Lakeside Bancshares in All-Cash Deal
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 4 days ago
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Should l Buy CLST?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Acquisition Agreement: Catalyst Bancorp has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Lakeside Bancshares in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $41.1 million, with shareholders receiving $19.58 per share, thereby strengthening its market presence in southwest Louisiana.
- Significant Merger Benefits: The merger will result in Catalyst being the surviving bank, with combined assets projected to reach about $627.3 million by the end of 2025, including $399.9 million in loans and $470.0 million in deposits, significantly expanding its customer base and market reach.
- Enhanced Earnings Potential: Catalyst expects the acquisition to be more than 180 percent accretive to earnings per share within three years, primarily driven by cost savings, indicating a strong financial growth trajectory post-merger.
- Regulatory and Shareholder Approval: The deal has been unanimously approved by both companies' boards and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, pending regulatory and shareholder approvals, reflecting the company's confidence in future growth.
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Analyst Views on CLST
About CLST
Catalyst Bancorp, Inc. is a bank holding company for Catalyst Bank (the Bank). The Bank is a federally chartered community-oriented savings bank. The Bank is primarily engaged in attracting deposits from the general public and using those funds to invest in loans and securities. The Bank’s principal sources of funds are customer deposits, repayments of loans, maturities of investments and funds borrowed from outside sources, such as the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) of Dallas or the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. These funds are primarily used for the origination of loans, including single-family residential first mortgage loans, commercial real estate mortgage loans, multi-family residential mortgage loans, commercial and industrial loans, construction and land loans and other loans. The Bank offers commercial and retail banking products through its six full-service branches located in Carencro, Eunice, Lafayette, Opelousas, and Port Barre.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Acquisition Agreement: Catalyst Bancorp has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Lakeside Bancshares in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $41.1 million, with shareholders receiving $19.58 per share, thereby strengthening its market presence in southwest Louisiana.
- Significant Merger Benefits: The merger will result in Catalyst being the surviving bank, with combined assets projected to reach about $627.3 million by the end of 2025, including $399.9 million in loans and $470.0 million in deposits, significantly expanding its customer base and market reach.
- Enhanced Earnings Potential: Catalyst expects the acquisition to be more than 180 percent accretive to earnings per share within three years, primarily driven by cost savings, indicating a strong financial growth trajectory post-merger.
- Regulatory and Shareholder Approval: The deal has been unanimously approved by both companies' boards and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, pending regulatory and shareholder approvals, reflecting the company's confidence in future growth.
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- Acquisition Overview: Catalyst Bancorp will acquire Lakeside Bancshares in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $41.1 million, with Lakeside shareholders receiving $19.58 per share, merging both banks into a stronger financial entity.
- Asset Growth: The acquisition is expected to increase Catalyst's total assets to over $627 million, with $400 million in loans and $470 million in deposits, significantly enhancing the company's market competitiveness and operational scale.
- Earnings Potential Boost: The transaction is projected to be over 180% accretive to earnings per share (EPS) and positively impact tangible book value within three years, indicating a substantial enhancement in the company's profitability.
- Robust Capital Structure: No additional capital is required for this transaction, and post-merger capital ratios are expected to remain strong, ensuring Catalyst's financial health in future operations.
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- Merger Agreement Signed: Catalyst Bancorp and Lakeside Bancshares have signed a definitive merger agreement, with Catalyst acquiring Lakeside in an all-cash transaction valued at $41.1 million, or $19.58 per share, expected to close in Q3 2026.
- Asset Size Doubling: Post-merger, Catalyst's assets will increase from $282.9 million to approximately $627.3 million, with total loans reaching $399.9 million and deposits at $470 million, significantly enhancing the company's market competitiveness.
- Profitability Enhancement: Catalyst anticipates that the merger will be over 180% accretive to earnings per share and accretive to tangible book value per share within three years, indicating strong profitability potential and future growth prospects.
- Experienced Management Team: Catalyst's leadership team possesses extensive merger experience, enabling them to quickly attract new customers in Southwest Louisiana, thereby driving regional economic growth and further solidifying market position.
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- Merger Agreement Signed: Catalyst Bancorp and Lakeside Bancshares have signed a definitive merger agreement, under which Catalyst will acquire Lakeside in an all-cash transaction valued at $41.1 million, or $19.58 per share, expected to close in Q3 2026.
- Asset Size Doubling: Post-merger, Catalyst's assets will increase from $282.9 million to approximately $627.3 million, with total loans reaching $399.9 million and deposits at $470.0 million, significantly enhancing the company's market competitiveness.
- Profitability Enhancement: Catalyst anticipates that the merger will be over 180% accretive to earnings per share and accretive to tangible book value per share within three years, indicating substantial financial returns from the merger.
- Management Confidence: Both Catalyst and Lakeside's management teams express that this merger will enhance customer base and service capabilities, driving regional economic growth, reflecting strong confidence in future development.
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Shareholder Payout: Lakeside's shareholders, excluding dissenting shareholders, will receive $19.58 per share in cash.
Total Payout Amount: The total payout amounts to $41.1 million in aggregate.
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- Catalyst Bancorp Acquisition: Catalyst Bancorp Inc. will acquire Lakeside in an all-cash transaction.
- Financial Details: The acquisition is structured as a cash deal, indicating a straightforward financial exchange without stock involvement.
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