Six Arkansas Banks Expand Their State Network

Six lenders made moves to grow their Arkansas branch network during the first half of 2015.

Little Rock’s Bank of the Ozarks and Citizens Bank of Batesville were the most active with three new projects each. Bank of the Ozarks is working to open its first location in Siloam Springs and add its second Springdale office and third Fayetteville location. Citizens opened two Hot Springs branches in the spring and is working to open its first office in Fayetteville.

Four other banks are in various stages of adding a new branch. In the spring, First Service Bank of Greenbrier opened a Little Rock branch, and Gateway Bank (formerly known as Bank of Rison) opened a Malvern office.

First Community Bank of Batesville is working on a branch in Bay, its second Craighead County branch, and Bank of Augusta is working on its fourth Searcy office.