First State Bank of De Queen

In Pike County, De Queen’s First State Bank is increasing its presence with a second branch. read more >

A Nashville (Howard County) timber firm has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, listing $2.1 million in debt. read more >

Two of the remaining banks in the serial loan controversies of Dennis Smiley Jr. hold judgments against the former Arvest executive. read more >

Eighteen lenders were dismissed from the battle over assets once owned by former Arvest Bank executive Dennis Smiley Jr. read more >

Arvest Bank of Fayetteville has settled with 18 of 20 creditors who loaned money to one of its former executives, Dennis Smiley Jr. Only First State Bank of De Queen, where Smiley’s namesake father is chairman, and Signature Bank of Arkansas in Fayetteville remain as possible claimants seeking money from Smiley’s Arvest Bank Group stock purchase and stock option plans. read more >

An apparent loan fraud scheme that imploded in northwest Arkansas has drawn a criminal investigation, and lawsuits have also started to flow. In the middle of it all is H. Dennis Smiley Jr. of Rogers, who resigned March 13 as CEO of Arvest Bank’s operations in Benton County. read more >

H. Dennis Smiley Jr., the former CEO of Arvest Bank's operations in Benton County, is the subject of a federal criminal investigation for loan fraud. read more >