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Member News
ARKANSAS BANK DEPARTMENT APPLICATIONS & APPROVALS Merger Application An application to merge Bay Cities Bank, Tampa, Florida, with and into Centennial Bank, Conway, Arkansas, has been approved. September 24, 2015. Purchase and Assumption Application An application by Cross County Bank, Wynne, Arkansas, to purchase or assume less than a majority of assets and/or liabilities of SOUTHBank, A Federal Savings Bank, Huntsville, Alabama, with the acquisition of the branch office located at 102 North Baltimore Avenue, Manila, Arkansas, and to operate under the fictitious name First Commercial Bank, has been approved. September 23, 2015. An application by Cross County Bank, Wynne, Arkansas, to purchase or assume less than a majority of assets and/or liabilities of SOUTHBank, A Federal Savings Bank, Huntsville, Alabama, with the acquisition of the branch office located at 208 North 2nd Street, Blytheville, Arkansas, and to operate under the fictitious name First Commercial Bank, has been approved. September 23, 2015. An application by Cross County Bank, Wynne, Arkansas, to purchase or assume less than a majority of assets and/or liabilities of SOUTHBank, A Federal Savings Bank, Huntsville, Alabama, with the acquisition of the branch office located at 750 West Keiser Avenue, Osceola, Arkansas, and to operate under the fictitious name First Commercial Bank, has been approved. September 23, 2015.
Take Your Lawmaker to Work Banks from across the state took part in the ‘Take Your Lawmaker to Work’ movement — giving our congressional delegation a firsthand view of the day-to-day workings of the banking industry. If your bank is interested in participating in this program, contact Ava Franks at ava.franks@arkbankers.org, or 501.978.3606.
Reynie Rutledge showed Senator Tom Cotton around First Security Bank in Searcy on September 14. Senator Cotton spoke with the bankers about ATR, TRID, and proposed HMDA changes.
First National Bank of Fort Smith hosted Congressman Steve Womack on September 22. During their visit, conversation focused on regulatory relief for Arkansas community bankers.
First Community Bank was named Rising Star Lender at the 2015 Region VI MidAmerica Lender’s Conference in Dallas on Aug. 31. Region VI is made up of banks in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. The bank greatly increased its number of Small Business Administration loans over the previous year, according to Linda Nelson, the SBA’s district director for Arkansas. First Community generated 30 small-business loans totaling $3.2 million from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015. “Working with financial partners and investing in communities by helping fund growing businesses is what the SBA lending program is designed to do, and we are pleased to have our lenders in Arkansas recognized for their work,” Nelson said. Dale Cole, chairman and chief executive officer of First Community Bank, said seeing growth in small business is a positive sign of a healthy and thriving community. “We’re pleased to help businesses expand,” Cole said. “Small businesses are important to every economy. By supporting these businesses, we are growing a healthier community. As a community bank, we are committed to living up to our motto of putting community first.” First Community Bank Named ‘Rising Star Lender’
