What's Next in the Simmons First Play for Metropolitan National Bank?
Simmons First National Corp. of Pine Bluff has submitted the winning bid to purchase Metropolitan National Bank of Little Rock. So what's next in this historic banking deal?
View ArticleFirst Community Bank of Batesville Applies for Jonesboro Branch
First Community Bank of Batesville has started the process to apply with the Arkansas State Bank Department to open a full-service branch at 1617 S. Caraway Road in Jonesboro.
View ArticleJudge Approves Simmons First's $53.6M Bid for Metropolitan National Bank
Simmons First National Corp. of Pine Bluff bid $53.6 million to acquire Metropolitan National Bank of Little Rock from Rogers Bancshares Inc., according to details of the auction shared during a...
View ArticleArkansas Business to Honor 2013 Best Places to Work at Sept. 17 Luncheon
The business-attire event, presented by Baptist Health, will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the DoubleTree Hotel in downtown Little Rock. Tickets are $50 each or $500 for a table of 10.
View ArticleUS 30-Year Mortgage Rate Steady at 4.57 Percent
Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages held steady this week, hovering near two-year highs. But rates could change quickly next week when the Federal Reserve addresses its bond purchase program.
View ArticleSimmons First Expects 'Significant' Branch Consolidation in Metropolitan Deal
Simmons First National Bank Corp. of Pine Bluff says it expects "significant" branch consolidation in its acquisition of Metropolitan National Bank, which it aims to close by the first of December.
View ArticleFormer Bank Employee Sentenced for Stealing $559,000 from Customer
A former employee of First National Bank of Fort Smith is sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for embezzling $559,000 from an 89-year-old bank customer.
View ArticleState: Payments to Catlett Law Firm May Have Lacked Proper Authorization
The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration said Friday that a number of payments it made to a Little Rock-based law firm may have lacked authorization required by state law.
View ArticleWhen Does Pro-Consumer Competition Become Bad for Banking?
Larry Wilson, chairman, president and CEO of First Arkansas Bank & Trust of Jacksonville, believes regulators need to quit rubber-stamping branch expansions and develop new evaluation criteria.
View ArticleGroups Trying to Make Hospital Prices Clear
In order to help patients comparison shop for health care procedures, hospitals are being pushed to be clearer about pricing.
View ArticleMain Street Financial Reporting (Douglas W. Coy Commentary)
Main Street America has been a focal point of economic discussion for at least six years and perhaps more. While the economic downturn has been devastating to many Wall Street firms and publicly traded...
View ArticleMitigating Occupational Fraud (Jerry Spratt Commentary)
Opportunity, incentive and rationalization are the three elements of the fraud triangle that are present in most occupational frauds. The failure of organizations to implement policies and procedures...
View Article2013: The Summer of Big Bank Deals
The sale of Metropolitan National Bank is one of three prominent bank deals that's been playing out in 2013.
View ArticleJudicial Order Sends Signal in Arkansas ATM Case
The lone ATM stalker case in Arkansas that didn't reach a settlement is set for trial Dec. 9 in U.S. District Court at Pine Bluff. But it won't be surprising if a trial doesn't happen.
View ArticleKeeping It Close to Home (Editorial)
Yes, we know that banks in Arkansas have not been completely immune to the avoidable mistakes and unavoidable economic factors that brought down hundreds of banks across the country during the past...
View ArticleDavid Robertson New AVP, Commercial Lending Officer at One Bank (Movers &...
David Robertson has been promoted to assistant vice president and commercial lending officer for One Bank & Trust of Little Rock.
View ArticleBruce Alt Says Health Care Reform Will Have Huge Effect on CPAs
Bruce Alt joined the Arkansas Society of CPAs in December as associate executive director then succeeded longtime executive director Barbara Angel when she retired on April 1.
View ArticleSimmons First National Not Alone In Bank Branch Assessment
The $53.6 million Chapter 11 acquisition of Metropolitan National Bank will pose some assimilation questions for executives at Simmons First National Corp. of Pine Bluff, particularly in the...
View ArticleToo Small To Let Fail (Gwen Moritz Editor's Note)
In some ways the past five years have flown by, especially when I look at my suddenly grown kids. But economically speaking, the past five years have been very long and slow, and I can only imagine the...
View ArticleEstate of Layton Stuart Still in Dispute Across Two Courtrooms
The legal tug of war over assets associated with the late owner of Little Rock's One Bank & Trust continues in state and federal court.
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