President’s Message

Jon Harrell, Chairman Generations Bank, Rogers

Jim Cargill, Chairman-Elect Arvest Bank, Little Rock

Randy Scott, Vice Chairman Farmers Bank & Trust, Blytheville

Tom Grumbles, Treasurer First Service Bank, Greenbrier

Rob Robinson, IV, Past Chairman Simmons Bank, El Dorado

Lorrie Trogden, President & CEO Arkansas Bankers Association, Little Rock

Craig Attwood, Pine Bluff Nathan Gairhan, Springdale Robert Husong, Rogers Gary Kleck, Springdale Cody Knight, Piggott Lance Lanier, Van Buren Barry Ledbetter, Little Rock Wilson Moore, Little Rock Evelyn Morris, El Dorado Marnie Oldner, Little Rock Mark Roberts, Malvern Todd Smith, Magnolia Jamie Waller, Magnolia Lynn Wright, Little Rock

It is often said, “We are defined by our actions, not our words.”

Our industry has faced tremendous challenges in recent months, and you rose to meet those challenges with extraordinary effort and innovative solutions. Our members did what you do best, take care of your customers and community. The ABA is incredibly proud to have worked alongside our members to provide valuable resources. We like to think that is what the ABA does best.

I would like to take a moment to review some of the ways in which the ABA assisted Arkansas banks during the last quarter. Daily conference calls and recap emails covering the countless number of alerts, notifications, rule modifications, and changes put out by regulatory agencies. Ever changing SBA/Treasury FAQs and IFRs. Federal legislation, state, and city executive orders.

In addition, we had many guest speakers on those calls giving you the opportunity to ask questions and influence policy decisions. Some of those included: Governor Asa Hutchinson, Senator Tom Cotton, Senator John Boozman,

Congressman French Hill, Congressman Rick Crawford, Congressman Bruce

Westerman, Congressman Steve Womack, the FDIC, the Federal Reserve,

FinCEN, the OCC, the state director for the Arkansas SBA office, Bank Commissioner Candace Franks, Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston, and state epidemiologist Dr. Dillaha. During the early months we were averaging over a hundred bankers on those calls.

Bankers worked around the clock during both phases of the funding to get applications through the system, and ABA worked nights and weekends to provide constant access and advocacy for our members in order to get the most up-to-date information out, relaying information about SBA issues, and working with our delegation to trouble shoot specific instances as quickly as possible.

We also advocated at the state and city level to ensure banks were declared essential, the proper reopening and mask guidelines were approved and posted by the Department of Health, and to get COVID liability immunity in place.

Communicating with the media about how banks were essential to the economic recovery process and the difference you were making in your customers’ lives and businesses was pertinent. We pushed out PPP success stories, and other pieces of vital information to the media with press releases and tv news and print publication interviews. We took every opportunity to get the message out to the public and help them better understand the important roles banks play in our economy and society.

We are always fighting for you, but more importantly, we are fighting alongside you for the banking industry. I cannot thank you enough for being there to serve your customers and communities, and rest assured the ABA will always be here doing everything we can to help your bank succeed.

The action only continues to grow hotter as we get closer and closer to election day. We have the full attention of our state and federal elected officials and they’re looking to the banking critical during this election cycle by making sure we are supporting candidates who understand bankers’ concerns. This is our opportunity to ensure that business-friendly, free market candidates are elected to the highest federal and state offices. Your contributions to ABA BankPAC ensure policymakers that understand banking will have a seat at the table when critical decisions are made.

With that in mind, we are kicking off our official ABA BankPAC campaign that will run through the month of September with a goal of $75,000 in contributions for both federal and state races. We are adding a new initiative this year, the 13th Board Meeting. I’ll be mailing you specific information about program logistics. Speaking to banks and bank boards of directors is another of my top priorities right now, so I will do all I can to come to one of your board meetings. Chairman of the Board Jon Harrell has also volunteered to come when called. A 13th board meeting is a specially called meeting held immediately before or after a regularly scheduled board meeting for the specific purpose of discussing ABA advocacy efforts. Board members are paid a customary fee for their participation in the extra meeting and are invited to make a financial contribution to ABA BankPAC. This is permissible and can make a big industry for our support. Your ABA BankPAC continues to be

difference in our fundraising for ABA BankPAC. This is the first of many communications you will receive from me this year about ABA BankPAC – it’s that important. Please call me with any questions or to schedule myself or Jon for an upcoming board meeting.

In closing, we hope you, your families, customers, employees, and communities are safe and well, and we look forward to the better times that await us all.

Farmers Bank & Trust Co.  Magnolia Banking Corp.  Horatio State Bank  First Community Bank  Works24 Corporation  MNB Bancshares, Inc.  Jon Harrell  Marnie Older  Boris Dover

Cornerstone Bank Eagle Bank & Trust Co.  Lorrie Trogden  BKD, LLP  Petit Jean State Bank $500 Club