President’s Column

The Arkansas Bankers Association is hitting the ground running for the New Year. While we are very disappointed by the failure of Congress to pass and approve meaningful reg relief, we are extremely proud of the role that our bankers played in making sure that the Arkansas Congressional delegation supported reg relief. We are also proud of the support our Congressional delegation gave to our reg relief proposals. Industry bashers like Bernie Sanders and Senator Elizabeth Warren have succeeded in politicizing regulatory relief for the FDIC banks. Regulatory relief is not, and should not be, a partisan issue. Banks allow all customers— regardless of political party— the opportunity to realize their dreams, be it opening or growing a business, or purchasing a first home. Now we need to move forward and re-double our efforts. During the last few years, a lot of bankers in Arkansas and elsewhere have worked hard for reg relief. We hope those bankers who sat on the sidelines, and allowed other bankers like you to do all the work, will reassess their support of and involvement in our industry. We need all hands on deck in the future if we are to be successful. Our failure to achieve reg relief for our industry in 2015 makes one thing clear; the industry as a whole must stand together and get more bankers to participate in industry grassroots efforts to make sure Washington knows and respects us. We need your voice to be heard. We need to step back and rethink our industry’s political engagement strategy. We need far more bank employees and local business customers involved in our grassroots efforts if we are to be successful. As a member of the ABA, you have helped us walk the halls of Washington many times in the last few years. As an association we are proud of the regulatory relief campaign we have put forth thus far, and will only continue to push harder until we achieve meaningful regulatory reform. As always, thank you for being strong advocates for our industry. We could not do what we do without each of you. As a well-known and successful state association we will continue leading by example. The strength of our association lies in our commitment to a purpose – to build for others and ourselves a prosperous and thriving community and state. The Arkansas Bankers Association will continue to be strong because we are more than a handful of individuals and banks; we are a collection of leaders striving for a common vision. Thank you, and, stay engaged. Looking Forward To 2016

PRESIDENT & CEO BILL HOLMES

Milestones in Banking to be Honored at 2016 Convention

The ABA is proud of the 19,000+ men and women who serve the Arkansas banking industry and the connections they forge to make our hometown banks successful. We would like to recognize those individuals who are celebrating their 40-year and 50-year anniversaries of service to our banks with “Milestones in Banking” awards sponsored by BKD, at a luncheon during the Annual Convention on Thursday, May 12, and with a feature in The Arkansas Banker magazine. This is the second year that the ABA has offered this award. Nominations are currently being sought for “Milestone Bankers.” All nominees should be actively employed in an Arkansas bank, and are eligible to receive specific milestone awards at 40+ and 50+ years of service, as long as they have not previously been recognized for that milestone. Nomination forms can be accessed online at www.arkbankers.org: ƒ 50 Year Banker ƒ 40 Year Banker ƒ Milestone Bank Alice Ann Simkins celebrated 50+ years at the 2015 Milestones in Banking Awards

The ABA Board of Directors approved the transition to a new logo at its quarterly meeting, held December 2 in Little Rock. The new logo is literally centered around ABA’s key focus: bankers. The artwork also features the Arkansas state outline in the association’s signature red. “Our Association has grown and evolved, and we felt it was time for an updated look. We have refreshed our logo to reflect who we are today, and symbolize our dynamic future,” explained ABA President & CEO Bill Holmes. “This wasn’t a decision we made lightly. We are proud of our rich 125 year history. That’s why our new logo retains our core elements and now highlights our primary mission, bankers.” “We all take pride in our work and the service ABA provides, and I believe this new logo exemplifies our collective energy and inspiration, as we carry out our corporate values every day,” Holmes noted. This new logo was selected from a number of options created by ABA staff with the assistance of Steven Owen of Eagle Bank and Trust. Implementation of the new logo began on January 1, 2016; the previous logo had been in place since May 2002. Read more about the evolution of the ABA logo on Page 23. ABA Rings in New Year with a New Logo

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 First 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

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

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

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

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

STUART THALHEIMER EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT 501.978.3605 | stuart.thalheimer@arkbankers.org

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

BRENDA SCARBROUGH ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT 501.978.3600 | brenda.scarbrough@arkbankers.org