Another deal between banks is producing another name change in the Lawrence banking market.

Lawrence Bank is changing its name to Great American Bank as part of a deal that combines the assets of the bank with a De Soto-based Great American Bank. The name change will take place Sept. 30.

But Les Dreiling, who has served as the president of Lawrence Bank and will serve as the president of the combined entity, said the new bank will have its headquarters in Lawrence, and the vast majority of its shareholders will continue to be Lawrence residents. Dreiling said the bank is adopting the Great American Bank name to make it easier for the bank to expand into other markets in the future.

“I’m not sure you really want to have the name Lawrence Bank if you are opening in Topeka, for example,” Dreiling said. “I’m not sure that would be real well received.”

Other than the name, Dreiling is not expecting customers to notice many changes as a result of the deal. That’s in part because both Lawrence Bank and Great American Bank already were owned by the same shareholders. The banks, however, operated as two separate entities for regulatory purposes.

Dreiling said the banks’ boards — which are led by Lawrence businessman Doug Compton — decided to combine the banks into a single entity to take advantage of cost savings that would come through reduced administration and technology costs.

The announcement comes after two other Lawrence banks announced mergers this week. Douglas County Bank announced it was merging with Missouri-based Metcalf Bank and would take on the Metcalf name in early 2015. Salina-based Sunflower Bank, which operates a branch in Lawrence, also announced it was merging with Colorado-based First Western Financial. The new entity hasn’t settled on a name yet, but said a new unifying brand for the bank likely would be announced in the future.

Dreiling said increased regulatory requirements following the Great Recession have caused more banks to look at consolidation.

“I think you will see mergers continue,” Dreiling said. “You will see smaller banks looking at opportunities.”

Dreiling said Great American Bank believes the environment could provide good growth opportunities for the company.

“We are in a mode to look at key acquisitions,” Dreiling said.

When the merger is finalized later this month, Great American Bank will have two locations in Lawrence, one in De Soto, one in Kansas City, Mo., and one in Lake Lotawana, Mo. The bank will have total assets of about $150 million.