131028_woodstock_heartland_midland

This letter urges the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis to carefully consider how the proposed acquisition of Midland States Bancorp, Inc. to acquire Heartland Bank would create a public benefit, especially for low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities and communities of color that historically have been denied access to financial services. The letter raises concerns that Midland States Bank is not currently meeting the needs of LMI communities and communities of color and requests that the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis delay approval of the acquisition until a clear public benefit can be shown and the fair lending complaint filed against the bank by the Metropolitan St. Louis Housing Opportunity Council is resolved by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.