Carmi-based First Bank and Heritage State Bank headquartered in Lawrenceville have jointly announced a partnership under which First Bank will acquire Heritage in the near future. First Bank has 9 branches in Carmi, Mt Carmel and Grayville in Illinois and in Princeton, Evansville, Mt Vernon and Poseyville in Indiana while Heritage has it’s Lawrenceville location in Illinois and Indiana locations in Vincennes and Haubstadt. There are no immediate changes for Heritage State Bank customers and clients. The conversion is expected to happen in mid-March of 2021 and the closing is subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals.