President’s Column

PRESIDENT & CEO BILL HOLMES As you can tell from this issue, we just returned from our Annual Washington Visit. Both the Senate and the House had been on recess the month of August, and had spent considerable time in their home districts. Every one of our delegation commented that they had at least one — and most several — meetings with their bankers in the district. Each was quick to relate a story that they had heard explaining the effects of overregulation on one of their constituents, as told to them by their banker. Because you have supported your community all of these years, you have laid the foundation to serve as a trusted source of information and expertise. We heard from both sides of Congress that you are changing their views on over-regulation. Scenario 1: Earlier this year a Congressman asked a regulator what the effect of a specific new reg was on community banks. After the regulator responded, the Congressman rebutted the regulator’s answer. The Congressman knew because, not only had he been a community banker, but he had heard over and over from community bankers what the effects were. Scenario 2: Arkansas bankers prepared for a meeting with our delegation: preparation that included numbers and percentages, facts and figures, dollar signs — the things that are usually the focus. And then, instead, the delegation talked about the effects continued over-regulation was having on their home district’s small businesses and on their voters. Even better, they had already drafted some common sense solutions, and were working with others to build a consensus. What a pleasant change! This was because our Congressmen have talked with local bankers who shared specific examples of what would happen at home if we don’t get some Reg Relief legislation through Congress this year. Our bankers talked about the impact it would have on jobs at their respective banks, how it would slow the economic growth in their communities and, most importantly, how it would affect customers and their families. Have we won yet? No. We are still facing an uphill battle, but we have found new and better ammunition. We will have to stay committed and engaged. We have to maintain contact with our delegation and push them to share our stories with their peers. Those efforts must intensify as we draw closer to the end of the year. It seems clear that it is somewhat “now-or-never” in Washington, D.C., at least as it pertains to Reg Relief for our banks. That may seem a bit dramatic, but if we don’t act now, it is likely that our community banking issues won’t be on the agenda for a long time. After the fall session of Congress, all eyes will be on the presidential election and chances to move legislation in favor of our industry will be slim. It is likely that we will ask you to call your Senator, or to tweet your Congressman as we try to push through some of the proposed Reg Relief legislation. It is certain you will again answer that call, as you have so much in the recent past. For that we say thank you. Please continue to be an integral part of our advocacy. You are making an impact. You Are Making an Impact

Attending the ABA Annual Washington Visit were, from left, Hunter Windle, Malvern National Bank, Malvern; Ava Franks, ABA; Randy Dennis, DD&F Consulting, Little Rock, Randy Scott, Farmers Bank & Trust Company, Blytheville; Kevin Thompson, Centennial Bank, Fayetteville; Scott Hancock, Centennial Bank, Fayetteville; Hunter Norton, First Security Bank, Fayetteville; Leslie Harp, Heartland Bank, Little Rock; Jim Taylor, First Security Bancorp, Fayetteville; Blake Fletcher, Stone Bank, Little Rock; Michael Lambert, FHLB-Dallas, Dallas; Sean Williams, First National Bank of Wynne, Wynne; Bill Holmes, ABA; Robert Taylor, Parkway Bank, Rogers; Greg Connell, Farmers & Merchants Bank, Perryville; Dave Dickson, Union Bank & Trust Company, Monticello; Cathy Owen, Eagle Bank, Little Rock; Aaron Gamewell, ABA; and Mike Jacimore, Arvest Bank, Fort Smith.

Marketing Conference 2015 November 12-13, 2015 Crowne Plaza, Little Rock

Join the ABA and the Sells Agency for this informative two-day event centered on your bank’s marketing strategies. Featuring national speakers and experts on a range of topics as well as informative and practical round table discussions, this new conference will help bank marketers stay ahead of current trends while connecting with other professionals in the field.

Log on to www.arkbankers.org for more information and to register! 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

AARON GAMEWELL EVP/COO 501.978.3613 | aaron.gamewell@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

TERRI KELLY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR 501.978.3607 | terri.kelly@arkbankers.org

STUART THALHEIMER EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT 501.978.3605 | stuart.thalheimer@arkbankers.org BRENDA SCARBROUGH ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT 501.978.3600 | brenda.scarbrough@arkbankers.org