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FNBC Bank was one of four banks honored by the American Bankers Association on Monday, Sept. 25 with an award recognizing the nation’s best bank marketing videos. The second annual AmBA Bank Marketing Video Awards, presented at the AmBA Bank Marketing Conference in New Orleans, featured nearly 300 entries from banks of all sizes. FNBC’s video— “FNBC + Boyd Jackson = Better Together”—received the award for the Best in Asset Category: Under $500 Million. The video was recognized for its focus on the value of a long term relationship with a local community bank. In the video, Boyd Jackson, a bank customer since 1941, talks about living right across the street from FNBC and borrowing $150 to buy a team of mules to farm with. Also featured in the video is FNBC Chairman Martin Carpenter. “We are really proud we had the opportunity to share Mr. Jackson’s story with our communities,” said Molly FNBC Bank Wins National Industry Award Carpenter, FNBC Vice President of Marketing & Public Relations. “He has been a tremendous friend of FNBC’s for more than seven decades, and his story is a true testament to the role community banks play in the lives of their neighbors.” A panel of bank marketing experts evaluated the production value, creativity and messaging of all entries. The top six videos for each asset category were then posted on ABABankMarketing.com for public voting in July, where more than 6,000 voters determined the winners. The AmBA Bank Marketing Conference is an annual gathering of retail bankers, marketers and executives from across the nation to discuss trends and focus on their role in transforming the delivery of banking services to meet the needs and expectations of their customers.
The US Department of Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund awarded $3.5 million to four Arkansas banks last month for reinvestment in distressed communities to support small business lending and promote affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization, and expansion into new geographic markets. The recipients, all CDFI-certified, were FBT Bank & Mortgage, FNBC Bank, Bank of Lake Village, and Southern Bancorp. Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana banks received the largest proportion of the CDFI funds. The awards come at a time when more communities are falling further behind economically. Last week, the US Census Bureau released its annual benchmark data on income, poverty, and health insurance for 2016, which revealed that income inequality continues to rise. Arkansas is among the top ten states with the highest poverty rates. “The CDFI banks recognized by the Treasury Department are on the front line fighting poverty and creating economic opportunity in the places that have been left behind by growing income inequality,” said Jeannine Jacokes, Chief Executive Officer of the Community Development Bankers Association. “Arkansas community development banks have been part of the solution to reduce the state’s poverty rate, one of the highest in the nation. We need more missionfocused banks like these, and more resources to support the communities.” The CDFI Program has proven to be an effective tool in stimulating significant private investment in community development with a very small percentage of government funding. Last year, CDFI Program recipients used their awards to: Finance over 13,300 businesses Provide funding for over 33,500 affordable housing units Provide over 427,000 individuals with financial literacy or other training ABOUT THE CDFI FUND The Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund was created by the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994. As a bureau of the US Treasury Department, the CDFI Fund operates programs that use modest amounts of Federal money to leverage a multiple of private sector capital to promote revitalization of low-income communities and bring disenfranchised populations into the economic mainstream. CDFI-certified banks, loan funds, credit unions, and venture capital firms are eligible to receive the funding. Since the CDFI Program was launched, organizations have received over $2 billion in Financial and Technical Assistance, and the number of certified CDFIs has increased tenfold. Four Arkansas Community Development Banks Receive Funding to Stimulate Economic Growth
Sandy Starnes, VP of Training and Recruitment of Citizens Bank in Batesville, will join the American Bankers Association’s newly established Emerging Leaders Advisory Board. The board, which is comprised of talented bankers from across the country, will influence the creation of innovative programming and networking opportunities for the next generation of bank leaders, help guide AmBA’s political engagement strategies and play an integral role in planning the Emerging Leaders Forum held in conjunction with AmBA’s Government Relations Summit. “It’s an honor to join such a talented group of industry thought leaders and represent Arkansas on AmBA’s Emerging Leaders Advisory Board,” said Starnes. “This appointment allows us to share our perspective on issues impacting banks, and help formulate new ideas and strategies to tackle some of our industry’s most pressing issues.” The Advisory Board members, many of whom were nominated to serve by their state bankers association, will provide input into new ways to enhance industry diversity and build on existing ABA initiatives and help grow the industry’s future leaders through professional development, peer networking and bank advocacy. Board members will also have the opportunity to participate in AmBA’s Power Up initiative, a callto-action campaign for bankers to help increase the industry’s voice in Washington by strengthening banker engagement. AmBA’s Emerging Leaders Advisory Board will meet twice a year in person and hold several conference calls throughout the year. The first in-person meeting will be held October 15-17 in Chicago at AmBA’s Annual Convention. Starnes is also a member of the Arkansas Bankers Association Emerging Leaders Section Council. She is a graduate of Arkansas State University and the Barret School of Banking.
MURATORE TO HEAD SBA DIVISION AT STONE BANK Nick Roach, President and Chief Lending Officer of Stone Bank, has announced that the bank has significantly enhanced its role as a Small Business Administration (SBA) Lender by hiring industry veteran Vincent (Vinny) Muratore as President of the Bank’s SBA Division. Roach said, “Stone Bank has been building our loan portfolio steadily by using the services and guarantees of the Farm Services Administration and the US Department of Agriculture. We have extended that expertise to SBA lending. Vinny brings decades of experience and contacts to Stone Bank as we grow this important business segment.” Muratore has over 40 years of commercial and SBA financing experience, having served as Regional Marketing Director and Vice President for the Treasure Coast, South Florida and Tampa/ St. Petersburg regions for Florida First Capital. He was also Regional Director for Zions Bank for the State of Florida and Mid-Atlantic Regions. Vinny was a Founding Director of Flagler Bank, a former Director of GulfCoast Business Finance, and a former VP of SBA Lending at Comerica Bank. He currently serves on the National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders (NAGGL) Region IV Liaison Committee and the NAGGL Conference and Education Committee. Marnie Oldner, Stone Bank CEO said “Our SBA division, headed by this professional who is so respected in the government-guaranteed loan industry, will allow our bank to continue its profitability and growth plans by originating millions of dollars of loans in Arkansas and around the country while building a community bank presence in Mountain View, White Hall, Little Rock, and Harrison.
PATRICK SWOPE NAMED CEO OF LEGACY NATIONAL BANK The board of directors of Legacy National Bank has named Patrick Swope the President and CEO effective November 1, 2017. Patrick will replace Don L. Gibson, who has been in the role since the bank was founded. Gibson will remain with the bank as CEO Emeritus. He will continue serving on the board and will focus on developing customer relationships and growth strategies while being active in the communities Legacy serves. Swope was a founding executive of Legacy in 2005 as the Chief Operating Officer, and he was named President in 2016. He has over 20 years of banking experience and has served side by side with Gibson since the bank’s founding. According to Gibson, “Patrick will provide the energetic leadership needed to continue Legacy’s growth in the Northwest Arkansas community. He will bring continued focus to our vision of being the community bank for generations to come. Patrick’s commitment to Legacy combined with our excellent banking team puts Legacy in a very strong position.” Swope is excited about the future of Legacy National Bank saying, “I look forward to continuing to work with such an amazing team and building on what we started back in 2005. We will continue to be the community bank of Northwest Arkansas and work to exceed our customers’ expectations at every opportunity.” Chairman of the Board, Gary George, said about the transition, “We have great confidence in Patrick’s leadership and are excited about the future of our bank. We are also grateful to Don for the excellent job he has done leading our bank since the founding.”
FARMERS BANK PRESIDENT RANDY SCOTT PROMOTED TO CEO
On September 20, 2017, the Board of Directors of Farmers Bank & Trust announced that Randy Scott has been promoted from President and Chief Operating Officer to President and Chief Executive Officer, effective October 1, 2017. In making the announcement, the bank board also announced that Steve Bell will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board of Farmers Bank, and will join the bank ownership’s Lawrence Banking Group, which oversees seven banking operations owned by Gaylon Lawrence, Jr. The Farmers Bank & Trust Board of Directors enthusiastically stated that, “For more than 12 years as President and Chief Operating Officer, working closely with our board, Randy has led our bank to be recognized annually as one of the top performing banks in Arkansas, and in the nation. We know the time is right to officially name him as Chief Executive Officer. We are very proud of Randy, and excited for the people of Arkansas, because we know the brand of quality, professional Customer Service and dedicated Leadership that Randy will continue to bring to our bank, and to our community.” Randy commented that, “I am honored by the faith our Board of Directors has expressed in me, and I am grateful for their constant support and encouragement. I now have an even greater opportunity to serve our great state, our valued customers, and our outstanding bank staff. Since I grew up in Southeast Missouri, I think of myself as a “Homegrown Banker,” and I love working where my roots are. Farmers Bank & Trust is
the perfect place for me, and for my family. Our bank is so deeply rooted, and so dedicated to this community; there is no place I’d rather be!” Scott, recently appointed by the Governor to the State Banking Board, also serves on the Board of Trustees at Arkansas Northeastern College. Among his many areas of local community service, Randy has been on the Board of Directors of the Greater Blytheville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber’s Executive Committee, and has served as President of the organization. Randy currently serves as Chairman of the Great River Economic Development. He has also been actively involved in youth baseball with the Blytheville Baseball Softball Boosters Club. His education includes a degree from Southeast Missouri State University, with a major in Finance and Accounting, and he is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado. Randy Scott has been in banking for 27 years, the last 17 with Farmers Bank & Trust. He and his wife Susie are the parents of two children, Lauren and Andrew.
Home BancShares, Inc., parent company of Centennial Bank, has announced the promotion of Kelly Buchanan to a new position, Director of Corporate Branch Strategies. The position will be responsible for growth incentive programs for all branches throughout Centennial’s footprint along with evaluating, exploring and designing new virtual branches. Ms. Buchanan has been with Centennial Bank for seventeen years. She was in Retail Banking and Business Development for
30 The Arkansas Banker | October 2017 ten years where she also served as a branch manager. She has spent the last seven years in the Marketing department. “Deposit growth is an important focus for Centennial Bank as well as keeping up with trends in virtual banking. Kelly has the retail banking experience needed coupled with enthusiasm for the program’s success,” said John W. Allison, Chairman. “Centennial has grown to the point of needing a centralized focus on deposits and branching and I’m pleased to announce this position as well as putting Ms. Buchanan in place to focus on these efforts,” continued Mr. Allison. “I am excited about this new position. I appreciate the opportunity to use my diverse experience on such an important initiative,” stated Ms. Buchanan. Ms. Buchanan is very involved with the Cabot Parks and Recreation and is the mother of two adult children and two young grandchildren. She and her husband Jereomy reside in Cabot, Arkansas.
CHAMBERS BANK WELCOMES ROTTER AS WESTERN REGION MARKET PRESIDENT
Chambers Bank of Danville has hired Greg Rotter as Market President, Western Region, said Chambers Bank President, Mike Donnell. In his new role, Rotter will manage all aspects of the West Region. Rotter has served most recently as a Market President and has held other various lending and management roles during his banking career. As the Western Region President, he will be working on the strategic vision to take Chambers Bank to the next level in the markets and communities in which they serve. Rotter will office at 8400 Rogers Ave., Fort Smith. Rotter, a native of the Fort Smith and Van Buren area, goes to Chambers Bank with more than 23 years of experience in the financial industry and started his banking career with Superior Federal Bank. He is a graduate of Henderson State University, as well as the Graduate School of Banking at LSU. Greg has served his community in many various roles, including current Treasurer for Van Buren Pointer Project Graduation 18, as well as having been a mentor in the Van Buren mentor program and being active with Partners in Education in both Fort Smith and Van Buren School Districts.
HALLIBURTON JOINS CHAMBERS BANK AS WESTERN REGION CHIEF LENDING OFFICER
Chambers Bank of Danville has hired Robert Halliburton as its Chief Lending Officer, Western Region, said Chambers Bank President, Mike Donnell. In his new role, Halliburton will manage all lending functions of the West Region. Robert has served most recently as Senior Vice President – Commercial Lending Officer and has held other various lending and leadership roles during his banking career. As the Western Region CLO, he will be working closely with the region president and executive committee to grow Chambers Bank loan portfolio and overall presence within the markets they serve. He will office at 8400 Rogers Ave., Fort Smith. Halliburton, a native of Texarkana, TX, has resided in the Fort Smith area for the past 15 years, goes to Chambers Bank with more than 25 years of experience in the financial industry. He is a graduate of Southern Arkansas University, as well as Southwest Graduate School of Banking.
Robert has served his community in many various roles, including UAFS School of Business Dean’s Leadership Committee, Partners in Education in Fort Smith School District, Executive Mentor UAFS business mentor program, Grace Community Church mission leader, as well as being active with Fort Smith Chamber.
GRANT GORDY JOINS FIRST COMMUNITY AS TREASURY MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST
First Community Bank has hired Grant Gordy to serve as vice president of treasury management for its new Little Rock banking center. First Community Bank recently received regulatory approval to become a full service bank in Little Rock. The financial center is located at the corner of Kavanaugh and Cantrell in the Heights. Rene’ Julian serves as the community president for the Little Rock region. “Grant is a great addition to our team,” said Julian. “As our treasury management specialist in the Little Rock market, he will work to grow deposits on both a business and consumer level. Grant will assist business customers with products such as cash management, positive pay, remote deposit, payroll services and will serve as a personal liaison for customers looking for a safe place to deposit their money.” Gordy is a graduate of Conway High School. He attended the University of Central Arkansas where he received a B.S. in Psychology. He has 15 years of finance experience and has spent the last 3 ½ years working at First National Bankers Bank. Active in the community, Gordy has been involved with Big Brother Big Sister, Boys and Girls
Club, and Junior Achievement. He resides in Conway and has two daughters. The bank’s lending team is made up of Julian, Eddie Ramsey, SVP commercial lender, Wendy Halpin, mortgage loan originator and Stacy Glover, commercial loan assistant. On the operation side of the bank, Emilee Schmalzried will serve as new accounts representative, Tori Rodgers as teller and Grant Gordy as vice president of treasury management.
ELAM JOINS CHAMBERS BANK AS COMMERCIAL SERVICES MANAGER
Chambers Bank of Danville has announced the addition of Beverly Elam as Vice PresidentCommercial Services Manager, said Chambers Bank President, Mike Donnell. Elam will oversee sales, product management, and customer service for all retail business products including, cash management, merchant services, and deposit products. She will be based in the Ft. Smith market. Elam has more than 25 years of experience in the financial industry. Her various roles have included, branch manager, loan operations, a business manager coordinator, treasury services and merchant services. Elam most recently worked for Centennial Bank and prior to that she held positions at Simmons Bank, Republic Bank of Norman and Arvest. Elam has served and continues to serve her community in various roles, including current positions on Fort Smith Advisory Board, Western Arkansas Foundation, and Fort Smith Public School Advisory Board as well as being a mentor with the Fort Smith Public Schools.
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2017-2018 Arkansas Bankers Association BANK DIRECTORY
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