First Community Bank of Batesville

First Community Bank of Batesville has expanded since its founding in 1997, but it hasn’t forgotten its roots. 

The bank was formed when its founders recognized the need for a community bank at a time when many small banks had been purchased by large, out-of-state corporations. The founders saw a void in banks focusing on local decision-making and wanted to create a company that was committed to the local community. 

With those values, the bank has grown from 14 employees to more than 650 in 34 locations across Arkansas and southern Missouri. 

While the bank has grown, it has stayed true to its origins, and the bank’s loan and service decisions are still made by people who live and work in the same communities as their customers. “It’s a unique plan and it’s working,” said Angela Connell, the bank’s senior vice president and communications director.

Previous Honorees