Pine Bluff
New Hires at Southern Bancorp, UAMS & Lexicon (Movers & Shakers)
This week includes hires and promotions at ArcBest, Philander Smith University, Stone Bank, and more. read more >
Simmons Names David Kennedy as Executive VP & Chief Technology Officer (Super Mover)
Kennedy will be responsible for overseeing the delivery of technology capabilities to all areas of the bank. read more >
Pine Bluff to Receive $500K in Federal Grants for Downtown Cleanup
The brownfield grants are aimed at returning blighted properties to productive reuse. read more >
Gen Z Banks on Digital, Arkansas Banks Seek to Adapt
Arkansas banks are racing to meet Gen Z’s digital-first expectations — offering faster apps, instant deposits, and easy account setups —while still keeping branches nearby for peace of mind. read more >
by Chloe McGehee -
First Community Bank, Bank OZK Expand Footprints
First Community Bank is expanding in Harrison with a second full-service branch, while Bank OZK is growing its presence in Tennessee and Florida with multiple new locations. read more >
by George Waldon -
Suzano Closes on $110M Deal to Acquire Pine Bluff Paper Mill
Pactiv Evergreen sold the facility to the Brazilian pulp and paper giant as part of a restructuring of its beverage merchandising operations. read more >
Royal Oaks Purchase Surpasses $2.9M (Real Deals)
A 159-unit mobile home park in Sherwood tipped the scales at $2.97 million. read more >
by George Waldon -
Simmons’ Q2 Income Falls 30% on Rising Deposit Costs, Credit Provisions
The bank reported earnings of 32 cents per share, which surpassed Wall Street expectations. read more >
Simmons First Foundation Promotes Shannon Morgan to Executive Director
She has been a member of the nonprofit organization since its inception in 2014. read more >
Pactiv Evergreen to Sell Pine Bluff Mill in $110M Deal
The buyer, Brazil-based paper and pulp producer Suzano S.A., has agreed to offer employment to the mill's 1,000 workers. read more >
Private Firms List Led by Blue Cross
Seventeen private companies owned and headquartered in Arkansas are believed to have had revenue of more than $1 billion in 2023. read more >
by Gwen Moritz -
Discovering Arkansas: Census Bureau Estimates Show Rising Population
More than half of Arkansas’ 75 counties have seen their populations grow since 2020, and the state’s population is growing at close to 2%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. read more >
by Marty Cook -
P3 Group Partners With SEARK on Student Housing, $7.24M Endowment
The 171-bed development on the Pine Bluff campus will addressing the housing needs of the growing student population. read more >
Historic Site A New Home For Banco Sí
Signature Bank of Arkansas will take over the former Bank of Rogers building, which first opened in 1906, to open a bilingual-staffed banking office. read more >
by George Waldon -
Black-Owned News Outlet Launches in Pine Bluff
The Arkansas Delta Informer's mission is to highlight economic development and cultural tourism in the region, but founders say it won't shy away from bad-news topics. read more >
by Kyle Massey -
Union Pacific to Resume Operations at Pine Bluff Yard
The move comes amid widespread service complaints and questions from federal regulators about rail capacity. read more >
by Scott Carroll -
Huge Gas-to-Liquid Fuel Project Ramps Up Again in Jefferson County
Developers say COVID-19 delayed the project, but a new timeline has been set to complete the next major steps. read more >
by Kyle Massey -
The Latest Chance for Pine Bluff (Editorial)
Pine Bluff has never lacked for boosters, but there must be more than sentimental nostalgia for a once-great city to create real, sustainable growth. read more >
Fort Smith No. 1 in Arkansas Tech Business Index for September, 3Q
Fort Smith returned to the top of the Arkansas Tech University Business Index in September, and also led the way in the third-quarter rankings. read more >
by Lee Hogan -
Jobless Rate Down in Most Arkansas Metros
Arkansas' unemployment rate dropped five-tenths of a percentage point in January compared to numbers from a year ago. read more >
by Lee Hogan -
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![Darrin Williams is the CEO of Southern Bancorp Inc., one of the United States’ oldest and largest community development financial institutions. [Karen E. Segrave]](https://arkansasbusiness.wppcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ARBusiness-Darrin-Williams-0011_opt-150x150.jpg)
![Andy Wilson (left), host of the “Doing Business in Bentonville” podcast, interviews Becca Shaddox and Brandon Viveiros of tech startup AdFury. [michael Woods]](https://arkansasbusiness.wppcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250611_Andy_Wilson_013_opt-150x150.jpg)
