First National Bank now First National of Omaha

FORT COLLINS – First National Bank in Fort Collins has joined the merger train, linking with its larger Nebraska parent company.

First National hopped on its parent company’s charter in Omaha last month hoping to achieve greater efficiencies and higher lending power.

The merger of First National’s charter became official on Sept. 30. The bank, headed by Mark Driscoll, is now the third Northern Colorado bank to make such a move, signaling an emerging trend to reduce regulatory scrutiny and increase lending power in an increasingly competitive environment.

The commerce banks in Loveland and Fort Collins will soon merge into one, and FirstBank…