[July 24, 2014]

Louisiana-based Business First Bancshares Was Advised by Commerce Street Capital on Its Acquisition of American Gateway Bank

Commerce Street Capital, LLC (CSC (News - Alert)), a Dallas-based investment banking firm, advises Business First Bancshares, Inc. on its acquisition of American Gateway (News - Alert) Financial Corporation and its subsidiary American Gateway Bank. Business First Bancshares is headquartered in Baton Rouge, La. and American Gateway Bank is headquartered in Port Allen, La. The transaction is expected to close later this year. This announcement was made today by Dory Wiley, President and CEO of CSC.

CSC Managing Director C.K. Lee was the lead financial advisor for Business First Bancshares and was assisted by Associate Preston Simons. CSC's team worked closely with the Business First's leaderhip in the negotiations with American Gateway Bank.

"This is an important transaction for both institutions," said Lee. "The combined organization will be a major player in the Louisiana market and we at Commerce Street are honored to work on this deal."

American Gateway Bank has more than $377 million in assets and currently operates 10 branches in the Baton Rouge vicinity. The community bank opened in 1905 and has doubled in size over the last 10 years. American Financial Corporation is the holding company for American Gateway Bank.

Business First Bank has $690 million in assets and has served the state of Louisiana since 2006. The bank currently operates five branches throughout Baton Rouge, Lafayette, New Orleans, Northwest Louisiana and Southwest Louisiana in addition to a loan production office in the Houma/Thibodaux Bayou region. Business First Bank specializes in commercial lending and is a subsidiary of Business First Bancshares.

CSC's Financial Institutions Group practice centers exclusively on serving the needs of the financial services sector. The group aims to provide sound, comprehensive advice, expert structuring and optimum execution to banks, bank holding companies and allied businesses. CSC is recognized as a leader in the industry for its valuation practice and the unbiased analyses and independent opinions it provides to clients to help them fulfill their fiduciary obligations.

About Commerce Street Capital

Commerce Street Capital, LLC ("CSC") is a private investment banking firm headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Led by veterans of the banking industry, CSC specializes in investment banking services (mergers and acquisitions, valuations and regulatory issue advising) and bank development (on-site consulting, sales and management of bank capital raises, market assessments and the bank regulatory application process). The firm provides tailored solutions for all or part of a financial institution's business lifecycle. For more information, visit www.commercestreetcapital.com or call 214-545-6800. CSC is a member of FINRA/SIPC.

This press release is for information purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation or offer by Commerce Street Capital, LLC, to buy or sell any securities, futures, options, foreign exchange or other financial instrument or to provide any investment advice or service. The testimonials stated within this press release may not be representative of the experience of other clients. The testimonials stated within this press release are not indicative of future performance or success. The testimonials stated within this press release are not paid testimonials.

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