In July 1993, Mercantile announced the pending acquisition of the Waterloo-based Metro Bancorporation with its subsidiary Waterloo Savings Bank for $55 million in stock. The acquisition was completed in January 1994. In December 1994, Mercantile announced plans to acquire the Davenport-based Plains Spirit Financial Corporation with its First Federal Savings Bank of Iowa subsidiary for an undisclosed amount. In August 1995, Mercantile announced plans to acquire the Des Moines-based Hawkeye Bancorp with its 65 bank offices for $351 million in stock. In May 1998, Mercantile announced plans to acquire the Iowa City-based First Financial Bancorporation and its First National Bank Iowa subsidiary for $169 million in stock. The acquisition was completed in September 1998. Expansion in Arkansas In December 1994, Mercantile announced plans to acquire the North Little Rock-based TC Bankshares Inc. for $155.7 million in stock. In July 1997, Mercantile announced plans to acquire the Arkadelphia-based Horizon Bancorp for an unknown amount in stock. The acquisition was completed in February 1998. Expansion in Kentucky In January 1998, Mercantile announced plans to acquire the Paducah-based CBT Corporation, the holding company for four banks, for $285 million in stock. The acquisition was completed in July 1998. Acquisition by Firstar Just five months after Star Banc Corporation completed the acquisition of Firstar Corporation to form the new Firstar in November 1998, the newly combined Firstar announced in May 1999 the pending acquisition of Mercantile Bancorporation for $10.6 billion in stock. The acquisition was completed in September 1999. After the merger, Jerry Grundhofer remained as president and chief executive officer of Firstar. Thomas H. Jacobsen, Mercantile's chief executive, became chairman of Firstar. See also Mercantile Bank (disambiguation) Firstar Corporation References External links Defunct banks of the United States Banks based in Missouri Companies based in St. Louis Banks established in 1850 Banks disestablished in 1999 Defunct companies based in Missouri U.S. Bancorp 1999 mergers and acquisitions