Banker News & Moves

Mark S. Forbis Joins Citizens Bank Board of Directors Citizens Bank Promotes Savell to Retail Manager of Eagle Mountain Branch

Jeff Teague, Chairman of the Board of Citizens Bank, is proud to announce the appointment of Mark S. Forbis to the Citizens Bank Board of Directors.

Mr. Forbis recently retired after an illustrious 31-year career with Jack Henry & Associates, one of the nation’s leading financial services technology companies, with over 9,000 banking and financial services clients across America.

During his career at Jack Henry & Associates, Mr. Forbis served in numerous executive management positions, most recently as Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer.

In this senior executive position, Mark led Jack Henry’s national technology strategy, their investment in and development of numerous forward looking, state-of-the-art and generationally transformational financial services technologies including: mobile/digital technology platforms, artificial intelligence software allowing voice activated banking and numerous other high value customer driven, technology based services.

“Mark is a world class financial services technologist with both expertise and vision. He has a seat at the table with those in the United States who invent and develop next generation technology and who will drive financial services innovation well into 2050 and beyond. Mark is a substantial resource for Citizens Bank as we aggressively move into the world of nationally innovative banking services,” said Jeff Teague, Citizens Bank Chairman of the Board.

Stone Bank Adds Dobbins to Mountain View Staff

Denise Dobbins has joined Stone Bank in Mountain View as a teller and customer service representative. She has over 30 years of banking experience and was previously affiliated with Centennial Bank in Mountain View.

Dobbins is a Mountain View native and a graduate of Mountain View High School. Citizens Bank is proud to announce the promotion of Patricia Savell to Assistant Vice President and Retail Branch Manager of the bank’s Eagle Mountain location in Batesville.

Ms. Savell has 29 years of banking experience, during which time she has served in management positions of increasing responsibility. She most recently served as Retail Manager at the Citizens Bank branch in Southside. She and her husband, Roger, live in Melbourne. They have one grown son, Cody.

“We want to make certain every customer at Eagle Mountain feels that we handled their business professionally and exceeded their expectations,” Ms. Savell said. “We also are proud to welcome customers to our branch where they will enjoy a true hometown banking experience.”

“The Eagle Mountain Branch is located in a very busy shopping and commercial area, so we are always striving for a perfect mix of convenience and great customer service,” said Katherine Harris, Vice President and Market Retail Manager for Citizens Bank. “Pat Savell and her team are looking forward to handling all of your financial needs.”

FNBB Announces Promotion

First National Bankers Bank is pleased to announce the promotion of Herbert Thomas to Senior Vice President, Relationship Manager. Herbert joined FNBB in 2017 and is responsible for business development in the Arkansas regions. Herbert has been in the financial services industry for over 38 years, primarily in a correspondent banking role. His experience and knowledge of the banking industry and bankers in Arkansas has been very valuable to efforts in serving our community bank customers.

&Banker News Moves

Partners Bank Announces Changes in Several Locations

Partners Bank has named Vance St. Columbia EVP, Mid-South Regional President; Erica Cook VP, Corporate Secretary; and Dana Pittman VP, Chief Operating Officer. Each of these work in the Main Branch in Helena-West Helena. Ben Pittman AVP, Credit Risk Officer, works at the Marvell Branch. Michael Bynum EVP, Central Arkansas Regional President will be working out of Conway.

Vance St. Columbia Erica Cook Dana Pittman Ben Pittman Michael Bynum

Union Bankshares Announces Staff Addition

Jarrod Yarnell, CEO, of Union Bankshares, has announced that Karey Don Kesterson has been hired as Senior Vice President, Risk Management Officer. Union Bankshares is the holding company for Union Bank of Mena and First National Bank at Paris.

Kesterson was previously Chief Financial Officer for Mena Regional Health System. He is a Certified Public Accountant and member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants, and graduated Henderson State University in Arkadelphia with a degree in Accounting.

According to Yarnell, “we are extremely pleased that Karey Don has joined our team, and are confident that his level of expertise and experience will be an asset to the bank well into the future. Homegrown talent and hometown banking go hand in hand, and that’s what we have in Karey Don”.

Union Bank of Mena, founded in 1934, has branches in Mena, Hatfield and Wickes. First National Bank at Paris was founded in 1891 and has branches in Paris, Caulksvile, Ozark and Clarksville, and in Booneville and Waldron as Community National Bank.

Farmers Bank & Trust Announces Promotion of Lacey McClish to SVP of Operations

Bank president Randy Scott remarked, “Of the many opportunities that I really enjoy at the bank, the one that I enjoy the most is when I can announce the promotion of a very deserving bank employee. I am very excited for Lacey McClish. She has been with our bank for 15 years, beginning her career as a teller, and she has steadily advanced through the bank to where she now oversees all the bank’s operations, which include Bookkeeping, Customer Service, and Teller Operations. Lacey is very special, and is very dedicated to our customers and to our bank staff.”

“I could not be more excited,” McClish said. “I love the bank, its staff, and the increasing opportunities I have been given to serve our customers, and to advance in my career. Our bank is so customer service driven, and that’s what I like the most!”

A Senath-Hornersville High School graduate, McClish also attended Arkansas Northeastern College. McClish and her son Hunter Vuletich, recently moved from Manila to Blytheville, and she will soon be married to Blake Wyatt.

Scott concluded, “Lacey is truly representative of the dedicated Farmers Bank staffers here, and all across Mississippi County, who have focused on providing the best in community banking service and services for 112 years!”

Union Bank Of Mena Announces Staff Promotions

Kevin Williams, President of Union Bank of Mena, has announced multiple staff promotions.

Jason Sullivan has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Lending. Sullivan, who was previously Vice President, Lending, graduated Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia and Barrett Graduate School of Banking in Memphis, Tennessee. Sullivan is a member of the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association and a volunteer for Baker Cemetery, Inc.

Pilar Fowler has been promoted to Vice President, Compliance and BSA Officer. Fowler, who was previously Assistant Compliance and BSA Officer, graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a degree in accounting. She is a member of Mena Rotary Club and Vice President of the board of directors of the Mena/ Polk County Chamber of Commerce.

Nina Moore has been promoted to Vice President of Retail Banking and Security Officer. Moore was previously Assistant Vice President of Retail Banking and Security Officer and holds an associate's degree in business from Eastfield Community College in Mesquite, Texas. Moore is a past board member of the Ouachita River School District and the Mena / Polk County Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Mena Lioness Club and is a Relay for Life volunteer.

Misty Hubbard has been promoted to Assistant Vice President of Retail Banking and CSR Manager. Hubbard has been with Union Bank of Mena for 16 years, has served on the board of directors of the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of the Ouachita Region, and is a volunteer for Relay for Life.

Simmons Names Northwest Arkansas Market President

Simmons Bank has promoted Charlie Van Ness to market president for Northwest Arkansas. Van Ness, who previously served two years as Simmons’ Northwest Arkansas lending manager, will oversee strategy along with loan and deposit growth for one of the state’s fastest-growing regions.

With more than twelve years of industry experience, Van Ness has previously served as Northwest Arkansas market president of Bear State Bank (acquired by Arvest in 2018), senior vice president of commercial lending at First Federal Bank (later Bear State Bank) and as a credit analyst for both Heartland and Regions banks.

Carson Retiring From Generations Bank After 45 Years

Generations Bank has announced that Terry Carson is retiring from Generations Bank where he served as Market President in Van Buren.

Terry had previously retired in 2018, but a loss in the Generations Bank family in Van Buren prompted his return to banking with Generations. He reassumed the role of Market President in his return. Those he worked alongside said “ he has been a truly great mentor”, that he “encouraged and always believed in me” and that they could rely on him to know a little bit about everything, noting he is “a walking library, if you need to know something, I bet he knows the answer”.

“Terry’s presence will be greatly missed, and we hope to see him around the bank soon. We appreciate you stewarding our Van Buren branch remarkably, and wish you well during retirement,” said Joe Ruddell, President of Generations Bank.

“We are grateful for how Terry served our Van Buren branch and market. After his initial retirement, he stepped back in to lead during a trying season and excelled. Thank you for your service to our team, Terry,” stated Jon Harrell, Chairman, and CEO of Generations Bank.