President’s Column

Get Energized at the Annual Convention On May 11,12, and 13, more than 350 ABA members, directors, stockholders, and guests will converge in Little Rock for the 126th Annual Convention, celebrating our 125th Anniversary as an association. It will be a meeting of motivation, leadership, recognition and rekindling of old friendships. The ABA team organizes, plans, and conducts this meeting filled with high energy, inspiration, and celebration. During the Convention, there will be a plethora of opportunities to engage in: leadership presentations, official business sessions that will direct the future of an industry that has 19,000+ employees in Arkansas, hear from nationally recognized keynote speakers, as well as an award session that honors individual milestones in banking for their 40 and 50 years of service. And speaking of recognizing ABA members — at this year’s convention we will honor two banks who are turning 125 along with the Association, and three additional banks celebrating their 100-, 50-, and 25-year anniversaries. Our Convention is an outstanding professional development opportunity. The ABA team showcases impactful keynote sessions addressing key industry issues and opportunities facing our banks. Our educational sessions and the Day with the Commissioner focus on delivering actionable ideas to help our bankers grow their institutions. Our Convention is also a family reunion. Come and reconnect with old friends and make new friends as well. Feel the support of bankers from across the state. Experience the energy of our younger bankers and emerging leaders as they grow into our next bank leaders. Our Convention is informative. Come to the Day with the Commissioner and hear from the ASBD, CSBS, FED and FDIC. After lunch you will meet Dan Blanton, Chairman of the American Bankers Association and hear the latest developments going on in the financial services industry. Be sure and visit the Trade Show to explore the latest trends and products available to make our banks better. I look forward to the Convention every year as my best opportunity to be professionally recharged. I always return to my desk with new knowledge, new ideas, and new materials. But for all the tangible, practice-related takeaways the convention represents, the best part is the chance to reconnect with our members. This, I believe, is the best of what banking offers us all: connections to something bigger than ourselves. Please join us at our annual Convention where we gather to celebrate our accomplishments, educate ourselves on issues that affect our banks and our communities, and plan for the future of our association. It is critical that each of our local banks are represented to share their voice as we elect officers to the board, adopt resolutions to support and strengthen our legislative platform, and talk to each other about our challenges and successes as bankers and guardians of our communities. I know you’ll be energized by all that the Convention has to offer.

PRESIDENT & CEO BILL HOLMES

A group of Arkansas bankers attended a banker-focused fundraiser for Congressman Bruce Westerman held at Simmons Tower in downtown Little Rock on Friday, April 1. Special guests Senator John Boozman and Senator Tom Cotton were also in attendance as bankers and federal representatives discussed future plans of attack for federal regulatory relief. Campaign Season is Underway

ROBERT Y. TAYLOR | CHAIRMAN Parkway Bank, Rogers DAVE DICKSON | VICE CHAIRMAN Union Bank & Trust Co., Monticello CHUCK MORGAN | PAST CHAIRMAN Relyance Bank, Pine Bluff SEAN WILLIAMS | CHAIRMAN-ELECT First National Bank of Wynne, Wynne JUDY LAWTON | TREASURER Heartland Bank, Little Rock BILL HOLMES | PRESIDENT/CEO Arkansas Bankers Association, Little Rock ABA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

PHIL BALDWIN | GROUP 2 Citizens Bank, Batesville GREG CONNELL | GROUP 2 The Farmers & Merchants Bank, Perryville TROY DUKE | GROUP 5 Gateway Bank, Rison ELIZABETH FARRIS | GROUP 4 Regions Bank, Hot Springs GARY GOLDEN | GROUP 4 First State Bank of DeQueen, DeQueen SCOTT HANCOCK | GROUP 3 Centennial Bank, Fayetteville DREW HARPER | GROUP 2 Bank of the Ozarks, Little Rock JON HARRELL | GROUP 3 Generations Bank, Rogers DARWIN HENDRIX | GROUP 4 Bank of Delight, Delight CHARLES HORTON | GROUP 1 Fidelity Bank, West Memphis J. MICHAEL JONES | GROUP 5 Merchants & Farmers Bank, Dumas CRAIG MOBLEY | GROUP 4 First Financial Bank of El Dorado, El Dorado WILSON MOORE | GROUP 2 Bank of America, Little Rock JERRY MORGAN | GROUP 1 Focus Bank, Jonesboro CATHERINE OWEN | GROUP 2 Eagle Bank, Little Rock RANDY SCOTT | GROUP 1 Farmers Bank & Trust Co., Blytheville MIKE SMITH | GROUP 5 McGehee Bank, McGehee JIM TAYLOR | GROUP 3 First Security Bancorp, Fayetteville STANHOPE WILKINSON | GROUP 3 Farmers Bank & Trust, Greenwood ABA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

BILL HOLMES PRESIDENT/CEO 501.978.3602 | bill.holmes@arkbankers.org ABA STAFF

BARRY JACKSON SVP/COO 501.978.3613 | barry.jackson@arkbankers.org

CARLA BRINKLEY VP/CONTROLLER 501.978.3608 | carla.brinkley@arkbankers.org

KAMI TAYLOR COLEMAN VP/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 501.978.3614 | kami.coleman@arkbankers.org

AVA FRANKS VP/DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS 501.978.3606 | ava.franks@arkbankers.org

TRACI LOGSDON DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS 501.978.3603 | traci.logsdon@arkbankers.org

JESSICA SAHENE MARKETING COORDINATOR 501.978.3609 | jessica.sahene@arkbankers.org

BRENDA SCARBROUGH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR 501.978.3607 | brenda.scarbrough@arkbankers.org

STUART THALHEIMER EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT 501.978.3605 | stuart.thalheimer@arkbankers.org CAROL ALLEN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT 501.978.3600 | carol.allen@arkbankers.org