NEW TO THE ARKANSAS BANKERS ASSOCIATION STAFF

• Ryan Dagley has been promoted from EVP Loan Manager (Bentonville) to president of the Rogers market.

• Russ Greenlee has been promoted from SVP Loan Officer to SVP Loan Manager (Springdale).

• Clinton Ryan has been promoted from SVP Loan Manager to EVP Loan Manager (Rogers).

• Knight Weis is transitioning from Rogers Market President to Springdale Market President.

• Jason Orlicek has been promoted from SVP Loan Manager (Springdale) as SVP Loan Manager (Bentonville).

“2022 was a year of tremendous growth for our bank,” Gary Head said in a statement. “We have not only expanded to new markets, we have also grown our holding company team to support our customer-facing staff. The individuals promoted this month have been long-time bankers in our organization and will continue the spirit of Community Banking at its Best as our bank continues to grow.”

The bank has locations in Fayetteville, Springdale, Bentonville, Brinkley, Rogers and Harrison. As of Dec. 31, the bank had $982.4 million in assets, a 15.3% yearover-year increase.

Signature Bank of Arkansas has also signed a lease for a second location for its bilingual division, Banco Sí. The company will open an office later this year at 103 Emma Ave. in downtown Springdale. The first location opened this past fall in downtown Rogers.

Armor Bank Hires Melissa Powell As Director Of Marketing

Armor Bank has hired Melissa Powell as its new Director of Marketing and Human Resources. With a career spanning more than three decades in marketing, advertising, and graphic design, she has worked with many successful brands.

“Melissa is the perfect addition to the Armor Bank team,” said Chad May, Armor Bank CEO. “She will play a pivotal role in working with all of our markets and the communities we serve throughout the state.”

Most recently serving as the Marketing and Communications Director at a regional agricultural and rural lending business, her experience enabled her to work with agricultural organizations, cooperatives, and producers across Arkansas and the United States.

Powell previously ran her own marketing firm where she served a broad range of businesses and individuals within the healthcare, agriculture, retail, technology, and manufacturing industries.

After leaving her marketing firm, Powell led a team as Marketing Manager for Armor Seed that marketed the Armor Seed brand which would become one of the largest seed companies in the country. The branding model, along with the strong financial growth of Armor Seed, caught the eye of the national brand

State Bank Department Announces Personnel Changes

The Arkansas State Bank Department announced the retirement of William (Bill) Milum effective February 28, 2023. Milum worked for the Arkansas State Bank Department for 45 years. He began his career with the department in 1978 as an examiner trainee and achieved the level of Senior Examiner, serving in this capacity for more than 40 years.

The department promoted Aaron Lockwood to Bank Senior Examiner effective March 19, 2023. Lockwood received a Bachelor of Finance and Economics from the University of Arkansas in

Land O’Lakes, which ultimately acquired Armor Seed in 2017.

A native of Lynn, Arkansas, Powell is a graduate of both Williams Baptist University and Arkansas State University.

In other bank business, Elise Hunter has been promoted to vice president of Deposit Operations. Hunter has held various roles within the organization over her tenure

“Elise has been a trusted and valued member of the Armor Bank team for over fifteen years,” said May said. “Her dedication to east Arkansas is a reflection of her exceptional work ethic and commitment to customer service.”

Angela Turpen was hired as the Forrest City branch manager. She will oversee day to day operations for the branch. Turpen has worked in the banking industry for almost two decades.

Fayetteville, Arkansas, and serves as a Bank Senior Examiner in the Little Rock office.

The Arkansas State Bank Department has rehired Scott Lambert as a Certified Bank Senior Examiner effective April 11, 2023. Lambert received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Marketing Management from the University of Arkansas Sam M. Walton College of Business in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Lambert worked for the Bank Department as a Certified Bank Senior Examiner from 2013 to 2022 before leaving to take a position as a Senior Vice President and Commercial Lender for Southern Bancorp Bank in Stuttgart. Lambert will be working as a Certified Bank Senior Examiner in the Little Rock office.

UMB BANK HIRES JEFFREY HENRICKS AS VICE PRESIDENT, RELATIONSHIP MANAGER

UMB Bank hired Jeffrey Hendricks as vice president, relationship manager in the Corporate Trust division. Hendricks is responsible for day-to-day administration of a complex book of trustee and escrow agent appointments and negotiating document provisions of new accounts by working with in-house and outside counsel, financial advisors and underwriters. He will also promote UMB in the trustee and escrow agent market with a focus in Arkansas and southern Missouri.

“I am honored to join UMB’s corporate trust team,“ said Hendricks. “The bank is a leader in the trust space and I’m excited about the opportunity to grow UMB’s presence in the Arkansas market.”

Prior to joining UMB Bank, Hendricks was vice president, corporate trust administrator at Bank OZK for 16 years.

“With over a decade of industry experience under his belt, Jeff was a natural addition to our division,” said Douglas Hare, senior vice president and regional manager at UMB Bank. “We welcome his expertise as we continue to expand to new regions.”

Hendricks earned his Bachelor of Arts in business administration and finance from Ouachita Baptist University and his Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

TROY BLACKSTON JR. JOINS TODAY’S BANK AS EVP & CHIEF LENDING OFFICER

Today’s Bank, a Northwest Arkansas regional community bank, announced the appointment of Troy Blackston Jr. as executive vice president and chief lending officer. In his new role, Blackston will utilize his extensive experience to oversee banking operations and manage the bank’s lending program and portfolio to ensure personalized service and excellence within the bank’s lending division.

“Troy brings an immense amount of expertise in bank management, lending and leadership,” Today’s Bank President and CEO David Scruggs said. “Not only is Troy highly skilled, but he understands people, making him a huge asset to our already talented team as we work to exceed expectations.”

Blackston joins the Today’s Bank team from First Western Bank, where he worked for more than a decade as a senior vice president and chief credit officer