Jan. 29. Aquesta Financial Holdings, the parent company of Aquesta Bank, has declared a 20-percent stock dividend, payable Feb. 24 to shareholders of record Feb. 10. A shareholder owning 1,000 shares prior to the transaction will own 1,200 immediately afterwards.

Since Aquesta records of ownership are maintained electronically, most shareholders will need to take no action to receive this stock dividend. For those shareholders who have not yet exchanged their old Aquesta Bank shares for the current Aquesta Financial Holdings shares, the stock dividend will remain in escrow until such old Aquesta Bank shares are exchanged. Any shareholders electing to receive paper shares pursuant to the prior exchange will now receive additional paper shares reflecting this current stock dividend.

For additional information regarding Aquesta or Aquesta Bank, contact CEO Jim Engel at 704-439-4343.