The purchase of Tyronza Bancshares Inc. by Big Creek Bancshares Inc. represents a nearly $8.5 million transaction. The acquisition of the parent company of Marked Tree’s First Delta Bank, first announced in April, is an all-cash deal.
Founded as Tyronza Bank in 1951, the $59.6 million-asset lender was renamed First Delta in 1990 and moved its headquarters from Tyronza 6 miles northwest to Marked Tree in 2001.
Six of the largest Tyronza shareholders and their respective paydays are:
- George and Sue Beley of Tyronza, 18% worth more than $1.5 million;
- Charles Luter of Paragould, 17.65% worth nearly $1.5 million;
- Xiao Ka Huang of Lynnwood, Wash-ington, 8.07% worth $683,000;
- Lewis Wood of Oxford, Mississippi, 7.2% worth $609,000;
- Herrick Norcross III of Tyronza, 6.71% worth nearly $568,000; and
- Olive Vaughn of Marked Tree, 5.85% worth $495,000.
First Delta, which operates full-service branches in Trumann and Tyronza, is the last independent bank based in Poinsett County.
It holds a 16.08% piece of the county’s $327 million in deposits. That $52.6 million is the third-largest stake among a competitive field of seven banks.
The two biggest shares of the Poinsett County deposits are held by Southern Bancorp Bank of Arkadelphia, 26.55% totaling nearly $86.9 million; and First National Bank of Wynne, 18.9% totaling more than $61.8 million.
Big Creek is the parent company of Forrest City’s Armor Bank. The $94.7 million-asset lender operates two branches in Little Rock along with its hometown.
Plans call for First Delta to operate as a separate bank until the first quarter of 2020, when its two offices will become branches of Armor Bank.

First Delta Bank, Marked Tree
Total Assets: $59.6 million
Net Income: $64,000 Staff: 16
Two full-service locations: Trumann and Tyronza
(As of March 31, 2019)
Total Assets | Net Income | Dividends | Efficiency Ratio | |
2018 | $62,766 | $525 | $300 | 70.26% |
2017 | $61,771 | $448 | $300 | 72.41% |
2016 | $58,696 | $441 | $305 | 71.11% |
2015 | $57,287 | $482 | $292 | 67.76% |
2014 | $65,468 | $557 | $280 | 65.16% |
2013 | $65,505 | $596 | $275 | 64.05% |
2012 | $65,195 | $509 | $285 | 68.71% |
2011 | $68,041 | $496 | $300 | 66.24% |
2010 | $50,973 | $362 | $280 | 69.97% |