George Makris
Simmons’ $100M Digital Bet Pays Off by Luring Customers
Under new Chief Digital Officer Alex Carriles, Simmons revamped its mobile app and started Coin Checking, a digital account designed to target first-time checking account users. read more >
by Mark Friedman -
Simmons First Completes Acquisition of Spirit of Texas
The $581 million deal gives Simmons $28 billion in assets, enough to surpass Arvest as the state's largest bank. read more >
Arkansas Eyes Upon Texas Lending
The Lone Star State beckons with bountiful markets, bank opportunities galore. read more >
by George Waldon -
Record Year for Simmons Despite Q4 Earnings Dip
Net income was $271.2 million for the full year, up 6% compared to 2020. read more >
Everything’s Bigger With Texas (Lance Turner Editor’s Note)
It’s well established that Arkansas has more than its fair share of banking talent. And that talent’s been on display throughout the year. read more >
by Lance Turner -
Update: Simmons First to Buy Spirit of Texas Bancshares in $581M Deal
Simmons First National Corp. of Pine Bluff is acquiring Spirit of Texas Bancshares Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Spirit of Texas Bank SSB, in a cash and stock deal valued at about $581 million. read more >
by Lance Turner -
Simmons First Q2 Profit Beats Wall Street Expectations
Simmons First National Corp. of Pine Bluff reports second-quarter net income of $74.9 million, up 27% from the same quarter last year. read more >
Fehlman As President, COO Among Leadership Changes at Simmons First
Simmons First National Corp. of Pine Bluff announces a list of senior leadership changes that includes naming Bob Fehlman as president and COO of the company and Simmons Bank. read more >
Simmons First Q1 Profit Beats Expectations
Simmons First National Corp. of Pine Bluff reports first-quarter profit of $67.4 million, down 13% from the same quarter. But earnings per share and revenue results beat analysts' expectations. read more >
Arvest Trims Branches Amid Digital Shift
Arvest Bank of Fayetteville says it will close 31 of its more than 270 bank branches this summer as the company seeks a better balance between brick-and-mortar locations and online services. read more >
Arkansas Lenders Count the Cost of Grace
Arkansas bankers are wading into the numbers to gauge the health of their loan portfolios after extending an opening round of financial grace to customers. read more >
by George Waldon -
Wehco Holds Off Newspaper Cuts After Landing Payroll Protection Loans
Wehco Media Inc. of Little Rock receives a federal Paycheck Protection Program loan, allowing it to stave off voluntary furloughs, salary cuts and reductions in hours, not to mention possible layoffs. read more >
by Kyle Massey -
Overload of SBA System Predictable, Arkansas Bankers Say
The technical difficulties that plagued the U.S. Small Business Administration's loan application system was no surprise, two Arkansas bank executives said Tuesday. read more >
by -
Simmons First Shrinks Branch Operations in Response to COVID-19
Simmons First National Corp. temporarily closed 53 branches throughout its eight-state footprint to reduce the potential spread of the coronavirus pandemic. read more >
by -
Arkansas Banks Ready for Opportunity Amid Chaos
The three publicly traded financial companies headquartered in Arkansas were jolted last month by the global market uncertainty, but executives are looking past the daily market prices to the future opportunities that could shake out of the coronavirus pandemic. read more >
by George Waldon -
Simmons First Executives See Compensation Rise in 2019
Simmons First National Corp. Chairman and CEO George Makris Jr. saw his total compensation rise to $4.9 million in 2019. read more >
by Lance Turner -
Simmons First Beats 4Q Profit Forecast; Marty Casteel to Retire
Simmons First National Corp. of Pine Bluff reports fourth-quarter earnings of $52.7 million, down 5% from the same quarter last year, but earnings per share beat Wall Street forecasts. read more >
by Lance Turner -
Simmons Bank Shouting Name From Rooftops
Verizon Arena in North Little Rock officially became Simmons Bank Arena on Oct. 3, marking the latest effort by the Pine Bluff bank to build brand visibility in central Arkansas. read more >
by Mark Friedman -
Simmons First 3Q Profit Up 48%
Simmons First National Corp. of Pine Bluff reports third-quarter earnings of $81.8 million, up 48 percent from the same quarter last year. read more >
by Lance Turner -
Change to Simmons Bank Arena Official This Week
Verizon Arena in North Little Rock will become Simmons Bank Arena this week. The 15-year deal is worth $10.5 million. read more >
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