Arvest associates in Greater Kansas City continue to support their community through the Casual for a Cause program.  Based on associates recommendations, The Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics was selected as the recipient of the program in July, and associates donated $800 for new wagons and wheelchairs.

The Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics is a comprehensive pediatric medical center that provides state of the art care for children birth to 18, as well as medical education to physicians and nurses.  They are also a leader in medical research in an effort to discover the treatments and cures of tomorrow.  

Each month, associates of Arvest Bank in the Greater Kansas City area have the opportunity to support their local community through the Casual for a Cause Program.  Associates are able to make donations to that month’s featured charity and show their support by wearing jeans on each Friday of the month.  Charities are selected based on associate recommendations.

In May, True North Missions was selected as the Casual for a Cause charity, and over $600 was raised throughout the month.  This organization was started in 1997 by Kansas City area health care professionals, and delivers free medical and dental care to the coastal areas of Guatemala.

In June, James Elementary School was selected to be the recipient charity of the Casual for a Cause Program.  James Elementary School is part of the Kansas City, Missouri school district and administrators work hard to provide quality education and additional programs to its students, many of which come from families who are at, or below, 100% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.  Arvest associates raised $580 that month, which will be donated to the Teacher’s Fund enabling them to provide the necessary school supplies to those students who cannot afford to purchase them on their own.
  

As Arvest Bank’s presence in the Kansas City market continues to expand, grocery shoppers around Kansas City now have improved access to withdraw cash safely and conveniently.  On July 16, the number of Arvest ATMs in the region doubled to 16, providing customers with an expansive network of service charge free machines throughout the Kansas City area.  The addition of eight new Arvest Bank ATMs was made possible through a partnership between Arvest Bank and Hen House Grocery Stores.  These machines are located inside Hen House locations, and provide customers needing to withdraw funds or check balances with a convenient and safe environment in which to do so.

Providing highly visible ATMs was also a crucial part of the expansion plan, and each machine is professionally labeled with the Arvest Bank logo and branding graphics resulting in a fresh, clean look that more closely matches that of their retail environment.  Additional signage has also been installed to make each machine easier to identify by Hen House customers needing to make a cash withdrawal.

“Since entering into the Kansas City market last November, we’ve looked for ways to expand our banking services to our customers.  The partnership with Hen House Grocery Stores will not only allow us to expand our ATM footprint, but also to introduce our banking services and products to those looking for a convenient and stable bank,” says Doug Heck, executive vice president and sales manager for Arvest Bank Kansas City.  “We all lead busy lives, and although most of our locations are open until 8:00 p.m., sometimes it’s hard to make it to the bank before it closes.  With the addition of these ATMs inside Hen House locations that have extended evening and weekend hours, we’ll be able to provide our customers with even more flexibility, something that is very important to Arvest Bank.  The partnership just seemed like a natural fit”.

David Ball, president and CEO of Hen House Markets, says, “We enjoy providing services to our customers that have the potential to add value to their shopping experience. The addition of these ATMs in our store locations will add an element of convenience to their busy lifestyles”.

Arvest Bank ATMs will be located at the following Hen House Grocery Stores:

15000 W. 87th, Lenexa, KS 66215
8120 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, KS 66112
11930 College Blvd., Overland Park, KS 66210
11721 Roe Ave., Leawood, KS 66211
1015 NE Rice, Lee’s Summit, MO 64086
6900 W. 135th, Overland Park, KS 66223
6950 Mission, Prairie Village, KS 66208
2724 W. 53rd, Fairway, KS 66205
  

It’s Fair Time!

Arvest Bank in Gardner, KS is a sponsor of this year’s Johnson County Fair, and is participating in the “Sheep Decorating Contest”.   You can vote for your favorite sheep, and when doing so, are entered into a drawing to win some great prizes from local businesses.  To vote for Arvest Bank’s entry “Sally”, or any of the other entries, please visit http://www.jocokansasfair.com/ and click on “Vote on Decorated Sheep.”

You can also use that web site to learn more about the Events and Schedule for the fair.

Then come out and enjoy the fair, August 2-7, in Gardner, Kansas!
  

On June 24th, Arvest Bank of Greater Kansas City sponsored two $500 scholarships, which were awarded to students by the Mortgage Bankers Association of Greater Kansas City.  For the past 18 years, the Mortgage Bankers Association of Greater Kansas City has presented scholarships to college students.  To qualify for this scholarship, students must have at least one parent employed by a company that is a member of the Mortgage Bankers Association of Greater Kansas City and submit an essay on one of three topics given by the Association. 

The essays are then reviewed by a committee and the top two are chosen.  Both of this year’s scholarship recipients are currently completing their graduate studies.  One of the recipients is completing the graduate program at Kansas State University in Education, and the other, Katherine Poppe, is completing the graduate program at Loyola University in Mathematics and Statistics.   Poppe is pictured below with her parents Carol and Thomas Poppe, along with Arvest Mortgage Officers Sharon Bollin, Mark Kessel, Ryan Mattiza and Joan Emas.

During the month of May, Arvest Bank-Greater Kansas City associates had the opportunity to show their support for Cystic Fibrosis by donating more than $1,300 through a Jeans Day campaign!  On May 1, the Great Strides Walk was held at Theis Park in Kansas City, and several Arvest associates participated in the walk, as well as worked in the Arvest Bank water station.

Learn more about Great Strides and how you can get involved in your own community here.

Pictured below is Doug Jones and several of the children of the Arvest associates who participated in the Great Strides Walk.
 

Arvest Bank in the Kansas City area has partnered with two local radio stations to help spread the word about our new extended hours beginning this Thursday, April 1.

This Thursday only, Kansas City radio stations KUDL 98.1and Kiss 99.7 will be offering text codes to anyone who visits the lobby or drive-thru of any Arvest Bank in the Kansas City area. Those who receive codes can text-in for a chance to win 2 Michael Buble concert tickets, as well as a $100 Arvest Visa Gift Card.

Also, the first and last customer of the day on Thursday at all Arvest Kansas City locations will receive a special free gift!

New Hours:

6300 Nall Ave.
Mission, KS 66202
(913)-261-2265
Lobby: 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. (M-F), 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (Sat)
Drive-thru: 7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. (M-F), 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (Sat)

11150 Pflumm Rd.
Olathe, KS 66215
(913)-549-3900
Lobby: 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. (M-F), 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (Sat)
Drive-thru: 7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. (M-F), 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (Sat)

14300 Metcalf Ave.
Overland Park, KS 66223
(913)-713-7300
Lobby: 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. (M-F), 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (Sat)
Drive-thru: 7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. (M-F), 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (Sat)

7401 W. 135th St.
Overland Park, KS 66223
(913)-953-4000
Lobby: 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. (M-F), 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (Sat)
Drive-thru: 7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. (M-F), 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (Sat)

10685 Mission Rd.
Leawood, KS 66206
(913)-953-4070
Lobby: 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. (M-F), 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (Sat)
Drive-thru: 7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. (M-F), 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (Sat)

328 E. Main St.
Gardner, KS 66030
(913)-953-4100
Lobby: 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. (M-F), 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (Sat)
Drive-thru: 7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. (M-F), 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (Sat)

119 E. 3rd St.
Ottawa, KS 66067
(785)-229-3950
Lobby: 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. (M-F), 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (Sat)
Drive-thru: 7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. (M-F), 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (Sat)

127 W. 10th St.
Kansas City, MO 64105
(913)-953-4130
Lobby: 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. (M-F) Closed Saturday

705 Woods Chapel Rd.
Lee's Summit, MO 64064
(913)-953-4040
Lobby: 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. (M-F), 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (Sat)
 

Fifty years ago, most children with Cystic Fibrosis did not live long enough to attend elementary school, but today, as a result of dramatic improvements in research and care, the median age of survival is 37 years old.  The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is the leading organization devoted to curing and controlling cystic fibrosis.  They fund research and support and accredit a nationwide network of care centers, which provide vital treatments and other Cystic Fibrosis resources to patients and families.

Little Rock, Kansas City, and Benton County Arvest Banks currently have walk teams participating in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s largest national fundraising event, Great Strides®. In fact, because of their support, they have been recognized as a national team sponsor. This cause is very important being that Cystic Fibrosis has touched the lives of several Arvest Associates.  Burt Stacy's grandson, Trey, and Haskell Anderson’s son, Reece, have both been diagnosed with this disease and so it is very near and dear to their Arvest Bank’s family heart.

You, too, can be a part of the Great Strides® walk on the following dates where you’ll be sure to see friendly Arvest faces:

Kansas City - Theis Park - May 1st
Little Rock - Little Rock Zoo - May 15th
Bentonville - Bentonville Plaza - August 28th
Benton - Tyndall Park - August 28th

Arvest Kansas City is also allowing their associates to wear jeans on Fridays in April and making a Walk-Of-Fame Wall to raise donations as well as handing out water, snacks and lots of encouragement at the Great Strides® walk check points.

If you would like to help but won’t be able to participate in the walk, you can contribute by purchasing $1 pin up roses in all the central Arkansas branches until the end of March.  All the money raised will be donated to the Great Strides® Little Rock. (Would you like to know why the rose has become the symbol of the Foundation?  Click here to read a very touching story.)

Learn more about the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Great Strides walk here.

We are proud of the Arvest Bank teams that are not only making a difference for this very worthy cause, but for also being an example of true community involvement.