What happened Shares of Howard Bancorp (NASDAQ: HBMD) jumped as much as 30% higher on Tuesday after the Maryland bank agreed to be acquired by F.N.B. (NYSE: FNB). The deal values Howard at about $418 million, a substantial premium compared to the market's valuation of the bank a day ago. So what Howard Bank operates 13 full-service branches in the Baltimore and greater Washington, D.C., area, with an emphasis on its namesake Howard County, Maryland. That's an affluent suburban area that banks are eager to serve, and Pittsburgh-based F.N.B. is paying up to gain share there. Image source: Getty Images. Terms of the deal call for F.N.B. to pay $21.96 per share in stock for Howard, a premium of more than 40% to Howard's Monday closing price of $15.62. F.N.B. intends to combine Howard and its $2.6 billion in assets into its First National Bank of Pennsylvania operations, creating the sixth largest deposit share in the Baltimore market. The deal is a terrific outcome for Howard Bancorp holders, with the stock trading below $10 per share as recently as a year ago. HBMD data by YCharts. Now what Howard shares are trading pretty close to the offer price, meaning the market expects the deal to close as expected and does not expect any other suitor to step in and outbid F.N.B. That seems like the most likely outcome, and there isn't much reason for those on the sidelines to jump in right now. Assuming no surprises from regulators, Howard shareholders should receive shares of F.N.B. sometime in early 2022 after the deal closes. 10 stocks we like better than Howard Bancorp, Inc.When our award-winning analyst team has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.* They just revealed what they believe are the ten best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Howard Bancorp, Inc. wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of June 7, 2021 Lou Whiteman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.Source