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 bank product and service solution providers offering hundreds of products and services 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

Ashton Adcock   |  Merchants & Farmers Bank  |  Dumas

Kyle Baltz  |  RiverBank  |  Pocahontas

John Beller  |  Bank of Cave City  |  Cave City  

Martin Carpenter  |  FNBC Bank  |  Ash Flat  

Jim Gowen, Jr.  |  Merchants & Planters Bank  |  Newport  

Gary Head  |  Signature Bank  |  Fayetteville  

Scott Hultberg  |  Bodcaw Bank  |  Stamps 

Chris Kelley  |  Barret School of Banking  |  Memphis, TN

Gary Oltmann  | Arkansas County Bank  |  DeWitt  

Chris Padgett  |  Arkansas Community Bankers  |  Little Rock

Bennie Ryburn, III  |  Commercial Bank & Trust  |  Monticello  

Milton Smith  |  First National Bank  |  Walnut Ridge

Lee Swearingen  |  Bank of Little Rock  |  Little Rock

ACB Officers & Executive Committee

President  |  Bennie Ryburn, III   |  Commercial Bank & Trust  |  Monticello

Vice President  |  Jim Gowen, Jr.  |  M&P Bank  |  Newport

Treasurer  |  Gary Oltmann  |  Arkansas County Bank  |  DeWitt

Secretary  |  Gary Head  |  Signature Bank  |  Fayetteville

Past President  |  Martin Carpenter  |  FNBC Bank  |  Ash Flat

Executive Director  |  Chris Padgett  |  Arkansas Community Bankers Association |  Little Rock

ACB Staff & Professional Support

Chris Padgett  |  Executive Director  |  Little Rock  

Art Morris  |  Community Bank Ambassador  |  Siloam Springs

Milton Smith  |  ICBA State Director  |  First National Bank Walnut Ridge  

Tim Grooms  |  General Counsel  |  Little Rock  

Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull  |  Bank Regulation  |  Little Rock  

BKD  |  Tax & Accounting  |  Little Rock