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Committed to preserving and promoting community banks,their franchise values and the communities they serve... |
About Us |
What is a Community Bank?A community bank is any state or federally chartered bank or thrift with its charter located in the State of Arkansas. It is locally owned and locally controlled. These institutions either serve a single county, contiguous counties or counties statewide and make the majority of their loans in the trade areas from which their deposits are gathered. They prescribe to the philosophy of independent community banking as evidenced by their actions and support. | Mission StatementThe Arkansas Community Bankers Association is committed to preserving and promoting community banks, their franchise values and the communities they serve. |
ACB History
In 1980 a small group of like-minded independent bankers banded together to charter the Arkansas Independent Bankers Association. These pioneers in Arkansas banking represented some 65 independent community banks throughout our State. In 1993 the name of the association was officially changed to the Arkansas Community Bankers Association. In May 1995 the membership voted to allow Arkansas based thrifts to be members of ACB. Today ACB serves all community banks and thrifts in Arkansas.
ACB created its niche in the bank products and services arena. Today, Community Bank Services, Inc. endorses or promotes over 35 Preferred Solutions Providers and Associate Members offering hundreds of products, services and solutions to our member banks. The annual volume purchased by the participating banks exceeds $375 million.
ACB was instrumental in the organization and chartering of the Arkansas Bankers’ Bank in 1990. The purpose was to create and provide an alternative source for correspondent banking services for independent community banks. It was the sixteenth bankers’ bank to be organized in the country and the first to over subscribe its stock offering. The Arkansas Bankers’ Bank was the forerunner to the First National Bankers’ Bank.
ACB provides a strong voice for legislative issues on the state and national levels. Under the maxim “no lobbyist is as effective as a constituent”, the ACB LegislativeWatch is an electronic messaging service provided to member bankers to encourage contact with state and congressional delegations to express their views on issues related to community banking.
ACB supports bank ownership that is indicative of a philosophy supportive of the ideals that maintain local community commitment and resists entities that threaten the existence of community banks. These objectives will be accomplished through regulatory, legislative, educational and earnings improvement programs available to ACB members. Such programs will be developed, initiated and executed by the leadership of the Arkansas Community Bankers Association. National and state level changes in the banking industry, both actual and proposed, will be monitored on a continuing basis and the Arkansas Community Bankers Association will respond to such change in a manner that will best protect and preserve community bank principles.
ACB Board of Directors
Kyle Baltz | RiverBank | Pocahontas
John Beller | Bank of Cave City | Cave City
Rebekah Bernacki | First Financial Bank | El Dorado
Casey Cullipher | RiverWind Bank | Searcy
Byron Earnheart | Barret School of Banking | Memphis, TN
Jim Gowen, Jr. | Merchants & Planters Bank | Newport
Gary Head | Signature Bank | Fayetteville
Craig Manatt | Peoples Bank | Sheridan
Kim Markland | Bank of Little Rock | Little Rock
Landi Mkhize | Chambers Bank | Danville
Gary Oltmann | Southern Bancorp Bank | Stuttgart
Chris Padgett | Arkansas Community Bankers | Little Rock
Michelle Reesor | First Community Bank | Batesville
David Scruggs | Today's Bank | Fayetteville
Marty Sellars | FNBC Bank | Ash Flat
Ed Wilkinson | Farmers Bank | Greenwood
ACB Officers & Executive Committee
President | John Beller | Bank of Cave City | Cave City
Vice President | Kyle Baltz | RiverBank | Pocahontas
Treasurer | Ed Wilkinson | Farmers Bank | Greenwood
Secretary | Marty Sellars | FNBC Bank | Ash Flat
Immediate Past President | Gary Head | Signature Bank | Fayetteville
ICBA Federal Delegate | Jim Gowen, Jr. | Merchants & Planters Bank | Newport
Executive Director | Chris Padgett | Arkansas Community Bankers Association | Little Rock
ACB Staff & Professional Support
Chris Padgett | Executive Director | Little Rock
Jim Gowen, Jr. | ICBA Federal Delegate | Merchants & Planters Bank, Newport
Tim Grooms | General Counsel | Little Rock
Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull | Bank Regulation | Little Rock
FORV/S | Regulatory Compliance | Little Rock
Ellis Tucker & Aldridge | Tax & Accounting | Little Rock/Cabot
Arkansas Bank Demographics
