125 Years of the Arkansas Bankers Association:
‘Saluting our lady bankers’
Women have long been a staple of the banking industry — in Arkansas and across the country. The following are selected excerpts from a series that ran in The Arkansas Banker during the mid-1930s, “Saluting Our Lady Bankers.” I have often wondered how many women executives are serving Arkansas banks. Having a little time on my hands, I “thumbed” through my Bank Directory the other day and discovered that there are 42 lady banker presidents, vice presidents, cashiers, and assistant cashiers. There may be more, not listed in the Directory. Then there are scores of girls working in the banks as stenographers, file clerks, etc. ...The thought came that it would be an interesting feature to have something on this order in each Banker, or as often as material can be assembled. Women have been doing much of the work in our banks and we feel that everyone would be glad to become better acquainted with these bankeresses. Therefore, watch for a photograph and article to appear regularly.
Carolyn E. Gardner The Arkansas Banker Office Editor July 1935
Roberta Fulbright Mrs. Roberta Waugh Fulbright may well lay claim to being one of the busiest women in America. She is the president of the Citizens Bank of Fayetteville, the Fayetteville Mercantile Company, Fayetteville Ice Company, KUOA, Inc., radio station, and Phipps Lumber Company. Mrs. Fulbright picks her own executives, checks up on her own businesses, and is a keen observer of human nature and events. Mrs. Fulbright is an active member of the Chamber of Commerce, and a number of civic organizations. July 1935
Mattie Edwards Mrs. Mattie Edwards is President of the Citizens Bank, Booneville. She has been connected with the bank since its organization in 1910. She was a stockholder in the old Farmers and Merchants Bank, which failed early in that year, and her work in effecting reorganization caused her selection for the Vice Presidency, which office she held until the death of President John C. Cotner in 1920. In addition to being a bank president, Mrs. Edwards for years has owned and managed her farm near Booneville, and other outlying lands. She is truly a native Arkansan, having been born and lived all her life in the state. August 1935
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The Arkansas Banker | October 2015
Agnes Bass Succeeding her husband, J.W. Bass, on his death, Mrs. Agnes Bass has been president of the Security Bank, Harrison, since July 1932. She spends part of each day in the bank and deeps in close touch with all its affairs. Mrs. Bass owns and operates a 1,600-acre farm and is raising white-faced Herefords. She owns several business houses and residential properties in Harrison, personally handling the rentals. When asked about club affiliations, Mrs. Bass laughingly said she was a member of every club that would have her...the Business & Professional Women’s Club, Book and Library Club, Twentieth Century Club, Apollo Music Club, and the Arkansas Federation of Women’s Clubs. November 1935
Lillian Cook In June 1918, Mrs. Lillian Cook joined the staff of the Cross County Bank in Wynne. She was put in charge of collections, helped on the books, and did the many odd jobs of the bank. In June 1933, the bank rewarded her years of ability and faithfulness by making her assistant cashier. In her eighteen years with the bank, Mrs. Cook has worked in practically every department. Prior to her bank work, she taught in the St. Francis County and Cross County schools for ten years. She attended Mississippi Women’s College in Columbus. July 1936
