President’s Message

PRESIDENT’S

MESSAGE

“I’ll tell you what bravery really is. Bravery is just determination to do a job that you know has to be done.”

- Medal of Honor recipient, Audie Murphy

THREE THINGS TO REMEMBER

Schedule a 13TH BOARD MEETING Register for January’s WOMEN IN BANKING CONFERENCE Be on the lookout for your 2021 DUES LETTER

Lorrie Trogden | President & CEO | Arkansas Bankers Association

In this issue we honor our veterans for their bravery and service, and I also want to honor you for your bravery and service during

this pandemic. Throughout this health crisis, Arkansas’ banks have been determined to do the job that needs to be done. You have gone above and beyond to help your employees, your customers and your communities. Despite the shortcomings of the PPP and EIDL programs, and now forgiveness, you have continued to march forward and do what needs to be done for the health of our economy and our state. In turn, the association has been advocating for you so that Congress, federal regulatory agencies, SBA, and Treasury will do their jobs that need to be done. (As of November), we continue to lobby for specific forgiveness language to be included in any stimulus bill that may be passed. We are also lobbying for both EIDL and PPP loan forgiveness, along with our long list of other issues that stay at the forefront of our ongoing lobbying efforts at the federal level.

At the state level, we are gearing up – as best as possible – for the 2021 general session. The session starts in January and as of right now, we have no idea what that will look like or how it will operate. Whatever the case, the association will do the job that needs to be done to ensure the safety and soundness of our industry. The Government Relations Advisory Committee is currently looking at potential bills that we may want to run in the upcoming session. Thank you to our new committee chair Jim Taylor with First Security Bank for leading our GRAC efforts.

Let’s not forget the ABA BankPAC. Our 13th Board Meeting campaign has been going well, but we are still short of our $75,000 goal. I urge you to participate in this campaign. BankPAC is a vital part of our government relations program. Supporting candidates for office that understand our industry and understand bankers’ concerns is one of the most important things we can do. ABA Chairman Jon Harrell and I eagerly await your call to participate in a 13th board meeting soon.

In the same vein of lobbying efforts, we are delighted that Susannah Marshall has been appointed by the governor as the new State Bank Department Commissioner. She has been with the bank department for 26 years, and we heard overwhelming support for her appointment from bankers across the state. I hope you enjoy her interview in this issue.

In closing, I want to thank you for your continued support of the association. It is your investment in us with your attendance at conventions and our schools and conferences, your PAC contributions, your membership dues, and your donation of volunteer talent that keeps the association moving forward and getting the job done so that we can best serve you. I wish you happy holidays and look forward to what the new year brings.

Thank You TO OUR

ABA BankPAC Members

PRESIDENT’S CLUB Bank of America Farmers Bank & Trust Company First Community Bank Horatio State Bank James Waller Lorrie Trogden Magnolia Banking Corp MNB Bacshares, Inc Petit Jean State Bank Tom Grumbles Works24 Corporation

GOLD BKD, LLP Boris Dover Brad Chambless Eagle Bank Hall M. Calhoun James Peacock Jon Harrell Kathryn Roberts Larry Wilson Mark Wilson Mike Wilson Paul Church Randy Scott Rob Robinson Sandra Ferguson Sara Cobb Stanton C. Willis

SILVER Ali King Sugg Brad Harrison Carl Harrell Charles Penick Dan Byars Dr. Chevron Ergle Dyke Johnson SILVER (continued) Gina Bennett James Beavers James Hawks James Morgan Jason F. Tennant Jerry Kimbrough John Langston John Maus, III John Rose Justin Bell Katherine Foust Kyle Hensley Larry Oaks Melton Cotton Michael Koone Nicholas Nabholz Otto Lienhart, II Paul Lindsey Paula Blackwell Richard Mosley Richard Smith Ronny Goff Steve Bell Steven Bone Stuart Todd Haynes Tommy Bond Tommy Wagner

BRONZE Angela Ergle Betty Harris Clark Fincher Cornerstone Bank Gary Bowman Joe Sugg Pat Bond Rachel King Randy McCaslin

Your Arkansas Bankers ABA BankPAC contribution is one of the most important investments you can make to protect the future of the banking industry.

ABA OFFICERS

Jon Harrell, Chairman Generations Bank, Rogers

Jim Cargill, Chairman-Elect Arvest Bank, Little Rock

Randy Scott, Vice Chairman Farmers Bank & Trust, Blytheville

Tom Grumbles, Treasurer First Service Bank, Greenbrier

Rob Robinson, IV, Past Chairman Simmons Bank, El Dorado

Lorrie Trogden, President & CEO Arkansas Bankers Association, Little Rock

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Craig Attwood, Pine Bluff Nathan Gairhan, Springdale Brandon Gentry, Wynne Robert Husong, Rogers Gary Kleck, Springdale Cody Knight, Piggott Lance Lanier, Van Buren Barry Ledbetter, Little Rock Wilson Moore, Little Rock Marnie Oldner, Little Rock Mark Roberts, Malvern Todd Smith, Magnolia Jamie Waller, Magnolia Lynn Wright, Little Rock