DD&F Consulting Group*

DD&F Consulting Group of Little Rock has grown from a three-man operation into a staff of 29 that provides consulting services to financial institutions.

The firm’s clientele extends from Arkansas to Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Louisiana and Oklahoma, with inroads in Kansas and Texas.

DD&F was founded in January 1993 by Randy Dennis, William DaBoll and Robert Fegtly, who left Arkansas Financial Services of Little Rock as that firm’s exclusive work for savings and loans began waning.

“I never really wanted to have my own company,” Dennis said. “It’s nothing I ever aspired for, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. We just knew there wasn’t a future in the S&L industry.”

The trio launched DD&F, with a broadened market that included banks as well as thrifts. The business emphasis of the firm’s early years included mergers and acquisitions, new charters and regulatory applications.

In 1999, the company expanded into risk management and strategic services. Risk management services include loan review, internal audit, information technology audit and compliance audit.

As DD&F has grown over the years, so have its quarters. The company now operates out of four redeveloped homes in downtown Little Rock’s MacArthur Park Historic District.

The firm weathered its early self-financed years to see its revenue top $2 million.

Among its largest deals is assisting Arvest Bank Group’s $211 million purchase of Superior Financial Corp.

Its staff includes former bankers, former regulators, accountants, information technology experts and experienced industry analysts. The company’s target market is community banks with assets of up to $1 billion.

“Our goal is to make our clients successful,” Dennis said.

Achieving that goal has in turn made DD&F successful.