Your Brain on Lists (Editorial)
There is something in the human brain that likes to see data organized in lists. In our newsroom, we know that our weekly lists are primarily used for sales leads — that's a service to our audience...
View ArticleI've Got a Tip for You (Gwen Moritz Editor's Note)
Every other year since 2000, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners has issued a big, thick study that it calls, ominously, “Report to the Nations on Occupational Fraud.” The eighth Report to the...
View ArticleFour Join List of 75 Largest Private Companies in Arkansas
The 75 largest private companies in Arkansas generated total revenue — self-reported and estimated — of $31.15 billion in their most recent fiscal years, and the price of entry to the list was $88.8...
View ArticleBank of the Ozarks Investment Pays Off for High School Graduate
George Gleason, chairman and CEO of Little Rock's Bank of the Ozarks Inc., shared an anecdote during the company's recent annual shareholders meeting. It began a decade ago.
View ArticleFeds Ready To Roll Out Scooter Stuart Autos for Auction
Five vehicles seized by the government from the family of Layton "Scooter" Stuart finally are heading to the sales block after a recent court order.
View ArticleSimmons First to Buy Liberty Bancshares in Missouri in $207M Deal
Simmons First National Corp. of Pine Bluff is buying yet another bank, Liberty Bancshares Inc. of Springfield, Missouri. Per the deal, Simmons First will acquire all outstanding common stock of Liberty...
View ArticleUS Economy Shrank at 1 Percent Rate in 1Q
The U.S. economy was battered even more than first suspected by the harsh winter, actually shrinking from January through March. The result marked the first retreat in three years, but economists are...
View ArticleWhat's Got Into Simmons? (Editorial)
We were as surprised as anyone else to hear that Simmons First National Corp. had announced its third acquisition of 2014, even before the first (of Delta Trust & Bank) and second (of First State...
View ArticleGot Cash? (Craig Douglass On Consumers)
The consumer with less cash in a wallet, purse or pocket is relying more on the simple debit card. The card is considered cash, or should be, as it is tied directly to the consumer's transaction bank...
View ArticleArvest Names Tom Dame President in North-Central Arkansas
Tom Dame has been named local bank president for Arvest Bank in north-central Arkansas. He replaces former bank president Jerry Cunningham, who left in late April. Arvest Bank-NCA has branches in...
View ArticleSimmons First Seeks Foreclosure on Funk
Simmons First National Corp. of Pine Bluff has filed suit against a local manufacturer for some unpaid loans. According to the suit, filed in Pulaski County Circuit Court, the defendant is O.D. Funk...
View ArticlePine Bluff's Relyance Bank Makes Move Into Little Rock
Relyance Bank of Pine Bluff recently bought a Little Rock branch building from Simmons First National Bank.
View ArticleAllied Bank Sues for Roof Damage Check Tied to Foreclosed Property
Allied is trying to recover $46,781 deposited from an insurance check that was issued to Adron and Gwen Gilbert and Allied Bank.
View ArticleFirst Federal Bancshares Changes Name to Bear State Financial
First Federal Bancshares of Arkansas Inc. of Harrison is now Bear State Financial Inc. The name change approved by shareholders on March 21 became effective Tuesday.
View ArticleSam's Club to Offer Credit Card with Microchip
Sam's Club on Wednesday said it will become the first mass retailer in the U.S. to offer a credit card using a fraud-deterring microchip.
View ArticleBear State Buy Poised ToTake Assets to $1.5B
Bear State Financial Inc. of Harrison, recently renamed from First Federal Bancshares of Arkansas, is days away from almost tripling its size with the pending acquisition of First National Security Co....
View ArticleTamika Edwards Joins Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families (Movers &...
Tamika Edwards, director of public policy at Southern Bancorp Community Partners, has been hired as director of governmental affairs at Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families, based in Little...
View ArticleMoses & Tucker Lead Refinancing of River Market Tower
Did you know the River Market Tower in downtown Little Rock is built on a new financial foundation? The ownership group, led by developers Jimmy Moses and Rett Tucker, bought the project's debt from an...
View ArticleAcme Creditors Oppose 3-Branch Sale, Say Allied Assets Should Be Separate
A proposed $2 million sale of three of Allied Bank's six branches to an unidentified buyer has drawn opposition from the largest secured creditors of its parent company, Acme Holding Co. of Little Rock.
View ArticleU.S. Senate Republicans Block Student Loan Bill
Senate Republicans on Wednesday blocked legislation aimed at letting people refinance their student loans at lower rates, a pre-ordained outcome that gave Democrats a fresh election-year talking point...
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