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Simmons Bank will sponsor a one-day conference on the future of the Arkansas Delta on Friday, May 19, at the Pine Bluff Convention Center. Gov. Asa Hutchinson will be the featured luncheon speaker. The conference, titled “The Arkansas Delta: Why It Still Matters,” is designed to help community leaders network with each other and discuss how to deal with a declining population base. The conference will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m. A catfish lunch will be served. There’s no registration fee, but those planning to attend are required to register in advance at www.simmonsbank.com/delta. This is the second consecutive year for Simmons, which has called Pine Bluff home since it was founded in 1903, to sponsor the conference. All 135 members of the Arkansas Legislature, county officials and city officials have been invited to attend. The co-chairmen for the Delta conference are Raymond Abramson of Holly Grove and Ritter Arnold of Marked Tree. In addition to the governor, speakers will include: Dr. Laurence Alexander, chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, who will discuss the importance of higher education in the Delta. Mike Preston, the executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, who will speak on economic development strategies for the region. Randy Zook, a Delta native who now heads the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce. Robert Moore Jr. of Arkansas City, a member of the Arkansas Highway Commission and a longtime Delta advocate. Dr. Fitz Hill, the former president of Arkansas Baptist College, who will speak on the importance of mentors for Delta youth. Dr. Shane Speights, the site dean for the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, who will talk about the need for more doctors in the Delta. Kane Webb, the executive director of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, who will speak about efforts to increase Delta tourism. Scott Simon, the director of the Nature Conservancy’s Arkansas chapter, who will discuss conservation efforts in the region. Dr. Ruth Hawkins, the director of the Arkansas State University Heritage Sites program, who will talk about Delta heritage and how it can tie into economic development. Simmons Bank to Sponsor ‘Future of the Delta’ Conference
Home BancShares, Inc., parent company of Centennial Bank, announced they received a 2016 Raymond James Community Bankers Cup award. The Raymond James Community Bankers Cup awards recognized the top 28 community banks with assets between $500 million and $10 billion based on various profitability, operational efficiency, and balance sheet metrics. Of the 281 community banks across the United States analyzed for the awards, Home BancShares ranked eighth among the Cup winners. Home BancShares, Inc. has been awarded the Raymond James Community Bankers Cup on four occasions since it the award’s inception in 2011. According to the analysis, Home BancShares, Inc. has shown superior stock performance in the last five years. Among the group of Community Bankers Cup winners, Home BancShares ranked fourth in five-year return at a 328.7% return, which significantly outperformed the NASDAQ BANK Index, S&P 500 Index and NASDAQ Composite Index in the five-year return category. Across the six financial measures analyzed, we ranked first in return on average tangible common equity and second in return on average assets, net interest margin and efficiency ratio as compared to the remaining Cup winners. “We are honored Home BancShares has been included with the best of the best of community banks for the fourth year in a row bank by such a respected financial investment and services company as Raymond James,” said John Allison, Chairman. “We are proud of our recurring strong financial performance and consistency in creating exceptional shareholder value.” Home BancShares, Inc. is a bank holding company, headquartered in Conway, Arkansas. The holding company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Centennial Bank, provides a broad range of commercial and retail banking plus related financial services to businesses, real estate developers, investors, individuals and municipalities. Centennial Bank has branch locations in Arkansas, Florida, South Alabama and New York City. Home BancShares Awarded Raymond James Community Bankers Cup
CARVER NAMED FINANCIAL ANALYST FOR STONE BANK
Jared Carver has been named a financial analyst for Stone Bank’s Banking Center in Little Rock. His focus will be analysis of the bank’s financial reports and forecasting financial performance. He was most recently a financial analyst for Frost Accounting CPA’S and with the Hendrix College business office. He holds an undergraduate degree in economics and a master’s degree in accounting, both from Hendrix College.
DONNA HODGE JOINS CORNERSTONE BANK MANAGEMENT TEAM
Charles T. Cross, President & CEO, Cornerstone Bank, is pleased to announce the hiring of Donna Hodge for the position of Vice President/Branch Manager. Donna brings 23 years of experience to the local financial institution and will manage Cornerstone’s Deposit Services personnel and serve as the Branch Manager for the bank’s Berryville market. She has most recently served for Wichita, Kansas-based Equity Bank in the Eureka Springs branch. Cross stated, “Donna started her career with our bank 23 years ago and we are thrilled to welcome her back into the Cornerstone family. Adding a banker of her caliber to our growing institution is truly a blessing and I have every confidence she will be a tremendous addition to our team of professional bankers in Carroll County.” Dodge is a native of Eureka Springs having graduated from Eureka Springs High School in 1989. She began her banking career in 1993 at Bank of Eureka Springs (now Cornerstone Bank) as a Customer Service Representative. She currently resides in Berryville with her husband Larry and niece Jaden. Cornerstone Bank, a Carroll County-based financial institution, has six full-service locations in Eureka Springs, Holiday Island, Berryville, Huntsville and Harrison.
HUSKEY JOINS CORNERSTONE TEAM IN HARRISON
Jason Tennant, EVP & CLO, Cornerstone Bank, has announced the hiring of Hasin Huskey for the bank’s entry into Harrison, Arkansas. She will be joining the Cornerstone’s deposit services and lending staff for the entire Boone County market. Huskey joins the growing Northwest Arkansas based financial institution after beginning her career at Arvest Bank and most recently with United Insurance in Harrison. Tennant stated, “It is always exciting to bring capable bankers such as Hasin into your bank family. I know she will be a great addition to what is shaping up to be a top notch bank team to serve the Harrison and Boone County area. Her commitment to an exceptional level of personal service within a true community bank environment is welcomed by our institution and will be embraced by our client base as we establish a presence within the market.” Huskey resides in Harrison, with her two children, Ella and Zavan. She is a lifelong resident of the area, having graduated from Bruno Pyatt High School and earning a Business Management degree from The University of Phoenix in 2014. Cornerstone Bank has opened its temporary facility in Harrison at the corner of Hwy 65 and Forward Drive while they construct their permanent facility at the corner of U.S. 65 and Wal-Mart Drive.
PROMOTIONS AND NEW HIRES ANNOUNCED AT FARMERS AND MERCHANTS BANK AND THE BANK OF FAYETTEVILLE Farmers and Merchants Bank President and CEO Gary Hudson recently announced several promotions and a new hire in the organization.
Kyle Pattillo of Fayetteville, formerly of Stuttgart, is now Vice-President and Commercial Loan Officer at The Bank of Fayetteville. The Bank of Fayetteville merged with Farmers and Merchants Bank through acquisition in December 2015. Pattillo was Senior VicePresident and Executive broker with Lindsey and Associates, Inc. for the previous 15 years. A graduate of the University of Arkansas, Pattillo enjoys hunting, golf and involvement in youth sports. He and wife Misti are the parents of two boys.
Also at The Bank of Fayetteville, Robin George has been promoted to Assistant Vice-President
in Loan Operations. She has worked for the bank more than 15 years. George is a native of northwest Arkansas. She attended Asnuntuck Community College and the University of Arkansas with a focus in accounting. She is a mother and grandmother who enjoys knitting, crocheting, movies and baseball games.
Farmers and Merchants Bank Compliance Officer Sarah Berg of Stuttgart has been named Vice-President. She is a Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager, a graduate of the American Bankers Association National Compliance School, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Berg began her banking career at F & M in 2010. Her extensive volunteer participation includes Stuttgart Junior Women’s Club services committee chairman, executive committee chair and secretary for Grand Prairie Beauty Pageant organization, and the Parent Teacher League at St. Johns School serving on the auction and services committees. She is also an active member of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church. She and her husband Justin enjoy fishing, hunting and spending time with their three children.
Internal Auditor Tori Hudson has been promoted to Vice-President, having started her banking career handling special projects in the lending department of Farmers and Merchants Bank. She is a native of Hazen. Hudson holds a Bachelors of Arts in Mathematics, with a minor is Physics, graduating summa cum
laude from Lyon College. Her hobbies include hunting, fishing, movies and shopping. She and husband Clint have one son. Michael Delancey of Stuttgart is now an Assistant VicePresident. He is the building supervisor. Delancey has a lifelong connection with F & M with his parents having worked at the bank before him. He began employment as a high school student. He enjoys cars, sports, and is an avid Razorback fan. Members of Mt. Zion Church, he and his wife Thelma have five children and seven grandchildren.
Farmers and Merchants Bank’s Amanda Cress-Haffner has been promoted to Assistant VicePresident as a specialist in electronic banking products for corporate accounts. Cress-Haffner is a native of Stuttgart who received a double Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and Business Management from Arkansas State University. CressHaffner first worked at Farmers and Merchants Bank while still a high school student. She is an active member of the Stuttgart Rotary Club and Grand Avenue United Methodist Church, where she serves on the finance committee. She and husband Will enjoy fishing and spending time with family and friends and their dog.
Kylia Neasley is now an Assistant VicePresident in the New Accounts Department in Stuttgart. A graduate
of Stuttgart High School, Neasley has extensive banking experience. She began her career at Farmers and Merchants in 2011. She serves as an ambassador with the Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the First Missionary Baptist Church. Neasley enjoys cooking, Ricebird football, and spending time with family and friends, especially her six year old daughter.
F & M’s Anti-Money Laundering Analyst Cachet Bledsaw has been promoted to Assistant Vice-President. Bledsaw is a Stuttgart High School graduate and holds an Associate Degree in Criminology from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. Her banking career began in 2010. She serves as chairman of a local outreach organization, Sistas with Style, is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and serves on the board of the Grand Prairie Soccer Association. Bledsaw and husband Frank have three children.
SUTTERFIELD, MABRY JOIN STONE BANK IN CUSTOMER SERVICE Teresa Sutterfield and Carla Mabry have joined Stone Bank in Mountain View. Sutterfield will be Customer Service Manager and Mabry will serve as a Senior Customer Service Representative.
Teresa Sutterfield, who will head up the bank’s customer service team, was previously a universal banker for First Service Bank in Mountain View and was an assistant vice president and branch manager for First Security Bank in Mountain View and a branch manager for Bank of Mountain View. She is a graduate of Mountain View High School and has completed several advanced banking courses.
Carla Mabry is a graduate of Mountain View High School and attended Southeast Oklahoma University. She has held banking positions with Bank of Mountain View and First Service Bank in Mountain View.
has been a team captain for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl-A-Thon and School Supply Drive for the Decatur Primary School. Renfroe has been recognized as an employee of the month for Grand Savings Bank and was awarded the Rising Star Award by the Gentry Main Street Chamber of Commerce. “Meredith embodies the community spirit of Grand Savings Bank,” said Guy Cable, CEO of Grand Savings Bank. “We are fortunate to have her on our team to serve the Western Benton County market.”
GRAND SAVINGS BANK PROMOTES RENFROE TO VP OPERATIONS, WESTERN BENTON COUNTY AND CONSUMER LOAN OFFICER
Grand Savings Bank has promoted Meredith Renfroe to Vice President of Operations for Western Benton County and Consumer Loan Officer. Renfroe previously served as Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager of Decatur. Renfroe has a Bachelors of Science degree in Finance with a banking emphasis from the University of Arkansas. She has 20 years of banking experience, starting her banking career as a part time teller while attending college. She is a community advocate and has served in various capacities for the Gentry United Way, Gentry Main Street and Chamber of Commerce and the Parks and Advisory Board for the City of Gentry. Meredith
ARKANSAS BANK DEPARTMENT APPLICATIONS & APPROVALS Branch Bank Application An application filed by Cornerstone Bank, Eureka Springs, Carroll County, Arkansas, to establish a branch banking facility at 1426 Highway 65 North, Harrison, Boone County, Arkansas, with a temporary location at 1306 Hwy 62-65 North, Harrison, Boone County, Arkansas, has been approved. March 27, 2017. Merger Application An application to merge Landmark Bank, NA, Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Florida, with and into Centennial Bank, Conway, Faulkner County, Arkansas, has been approved. February 16, 2017.
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