ARVEST BANK PROMOTES MORBECK, CRAIN TO EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP ROLES; SHEPARD

Takes On Regional Role

Fayetteville-chartered Arvest Bank has promoted Amy Morbeck of Little Flock and Brad Crain of Bentonville to new leadership positions within the organization, effective June 10.

According to a news release, the two executive positions are new for Arvest but effectively combine previous roles held by former executives.

Morbeck, currently executive vice president and sales manager for the bank’s Benton County market, is now chief product and innovation officer. According to the release, in her new role, she will provide executive oversight of the sales, service and support areas, marketing, customer experience, the product team and go-to-market execution.

With 28 years of experience in the banking industry, Morbeck has held several leadership roles during her career at Arvest, including private banking manager in Kansas City, Mo., president of Arvest Premier Solutions and director of Small Business Strategy and Innovation.

Crain, president of Arvest Benton County since 2020, will become a regional executive for enhanced banking services. According to the release, he will provide executive oversight of Arvest Wealth Management, Arvest Equipment Finance, treasury management, Waco Title Co., consumer lending and Arvest Credit Card. He will also oversee the bank’s two industry verticals: healthcare and food value chain.

Crain has been with Arvest for 18 years. He was previously bank president in Springfield, Mo., from 2014 to 2020. Prior to that, he held various leadership roles within Arvest Wealth Management, including executive vice president.

Longtime executive Rodney Shepard of Fort Smith has been tapped as regional executive, effective immediately. According to a news release, he will oversee the company’s banking operations in Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas.

Shepard has been with Arvest for 30 years and most recently was chief customer experience officer since January 2019. Prior to that, he was president of the bank’s Springfield, Mo., and Fort Smith bank markets.

“As chief customer experience officer, Rodney has played a pivotal role in shaping our overall strategic vision while ensuring the customer is at the heart of every business decision we make,” said Arvest Bank Chairman and CEO Kevin Sabin. “I know his experience, leadership capabilities and deep knowledge will continue to have a significant impact as we grow and evolve. In his new role, Rodney’s extensive experience working within and leading our banks in Fort Smith and Springfield will be very beneficial to our local banks and executives with whom he will be working.”

Arvest has two regional executives. Craig Rivaldo of Bentonville is the other.

Shepard is a distinguished alumnus of Carl Albert Junior College in Poteau, Okla. and holds a bachelor’s degree from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Okla.; an MBA from Webster University and is an alumnus of the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La. and the Mid-South School of Banking in Memphis, Tenn.

Shepard replaces Brad Krieger of Edmond, Okla., who retired in April after 28 years with Arvest.

CHIEF CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE OFFICER, RODNEY HAS PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN SHAPING OUR OVERALL STRATEGIC VISION WHILE ENSURING THE CUSTOMER IS AT THE HEART OF EVERY BUSINESS DECISION WE MAKE.”