Arvest Bank has been a proud supporter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for many years.  Cystic Fibrosis is a chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 individuals in the U.S. and 70,000 worldwide.  The mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is to develop the means to cure and control Cystic Fibrosis and to improve the quality of life for those with the disease. 

To help assist the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s mission, we once again participated in this year’s Great Strides Walk on Saturday, May 16 at the Little Rock Zoo.  Arvest had 40 walkers on walk day and the Arvest teams raised a total of $11,869.90 for Cystic Fibrosis!  This is incredible, especially compared to the $7,395.62 that we raised last year.  So far, the walk has raised a total of $58,000 for Cystic Fibrosis!

One of our very own Regional Managers, Haskell Anderson, was the Chair of the Little Rock Great Strides walk.  We are very appreciative of Haskell’s dedication and representation.

For more information about the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, you can visit www.cff.org.
 

Want to buy a home, but not sure if you are ready?  Let our experts help you through the process!  Do you have questions about the $8,000 tax credit, benefits of being a home owner, documents you’ll need for closing, how to qualify for a loan, your down payment, pre-approval letters, or anything else about the home buying process?  If so, please join us for a free seminar that will answer these questions and many more!  Even if you are not ready to buy right now, we can help you prepare for when you are ready to become a home owner.

When:  Tuesday, June 16
When:  6:30- 7:30 p.m.
Where: Northwest Arkansas Community College
Shewmaker Center, Wal*Mart Auditorium
One College Drive, Bentonville AR

Light Refreshments will be served.  Space is limited.  Please RSVP to Lou Anne Walker at 479.621.1858 or lawalker@arvest.com. 
 

Over the last decade we've noticed an increase in the number of debit card transactions and a reduction in the number of checks written by customers, and we're not alone.  A recent article in the Benton County Daily Record discusses the shift from paper to plastic.  Here are some excerpts:

"It seems that no matter where a person eats, shops or otherwise spends money, some sort of automatic or online payment is the preferred method, making the idea of check writing more and more obsolete.

TowerGroup, a leading research and advisory-services firm that focuses on the financial-services industry, reported recently that research shows that by the end of 2009, the number of check transactions will continue to decrease as online options become more prevalent. The use of checks was 46 percent of the total U.S. payment volume in 2003. In 2006, that number had shrunk to 31 percent. "

"Over the last decade or so, we've noticed an increase in the number of debit-card transactions," said Michelle Fittro, marketing officer with Arvest Bank of Bentonville. "We can assume that this is in response to a number of factors."

Fittro continued to say that using debit cards allows for additional safeguards against fraud that comes in various forms, both for customers and merchants. It's also easier to use a debit card."

Arvest has seen these same trends away from the use of checks.   Some of the specific reasons for increased card usage we're seeing include:

• More acceptance of debit and credit cards by merchants people use every day, including pay at the pump gas stations and fast food restaurants
• Reward programs like Arvest Rewards, which allow you to redeem your points earned for shopping, dining and travel gift cards
• Increases in use of online bill payment services and automatic drafts for payments has greatly reduced the number of bills being paid by a personal check
• Efforts to reduce paper usage by consumers has driven some to the more environmental-friendly card transaction

Read the entire article on the Benton County Daily Record website.

For the past 32 years, Bonnie Evans has been an integral part of the Arvest-Bentonville team. Her continued support and dedication to our company is evident and even influenced the career choices of many in her family. Her husband, daughter and daughter-in-law worked for Arvest and her son, Chad, is the Sales Manager for Arvest in Bentonville. On May 29, Bonnie will be retiring from Arvest. She will be missed by all that have worked with her.

Patti Park has worked with Bonnie for the past thirteen years and has seen and experienced Bonnie's kindness and warmth towards her coworkers and customers first hand. Below are just a few things that makes Bonnie Evans such an amazing individual and teammate:

* Bonnie will take a customer she has never met before, and by the time she is done with them, you would think they have been best friends for years.

* Bonnie does not just help someone with their banking, she cares about their family, their jobs, and their life.

* Did you hear how she met her husband? Bonnie had lost her husband several years ago, and while working one day, she helped a gentleman and his daughters with their finances shortly after the man's wife had passed away. A year later the daughters told the gentleman that he should look up the nice lady that waited on you at the bank. He did, and now they are married!

* I think you can tell a lot about someone when you meet their children. She has very nice children. They are good, kind people.

* She has seen a lot of changes in bank policy and procedure over her 32 years and she does not mind the change as long as it is good for the customer. She will argue it if it is not right for the customer.

*Customers will wait for hours just to see Bonnie. I offered to bring a customer lunch in one day because she had waited two hours and did not want anyone else but Bonnie ....lunch time came and went and she continued to wait.

* When Bonnie opened my accounts when I moved to Arkansas, she was so friendly and positive about the bank that I decided to apply and start working here myself. I have been here 13 years. I'm sure she made that same impression on many other newcomers to the area.

She is a friend, and like a mom and a sister to me. I wish I could say she treats me that way because I am special but she treats everyone that way because SHE is special.

- Submitted by Patti Park 

At Arvest our mission statement is “People helping people find financial solutions for life.”  Consistently delivering exceptional customer services is a vital part of this mission.  This is why we are so pleased to announce the very positive results of a leading national customer satisfaction study.  We are thankful for the opportunity to serve each customer and our communities as a trusted financial services provider.

Arvest Bank Ranked Highest in Southeast Region in J.D. Power and Associates Retail Banking Satisfaction Study

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (May 19, 2009) – Arvest Bank ranks highest in the Southeast Region in the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Retail Banking Satisfaction Study released today. 

Arvest Bank received ratings significantly higher than the regional average in five factors analyzed by the study - transactions, convenience, fees, account statements, and account initiation/product offerings.  The study was conducted with more than 28,000 banking consumers throughout seven regions across the United States. The Southeast Region is comprised of twelve states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Kentucky, West Virginia and Arkansas.

“Arvest Bank was founded on the premise that our customers are our first priority and this recognition from them demonstrates that we are keeping that promise,” said Kevin Sabin, president and COO of Arvest.  “This award is a true reflection of our professional and dedicated associates who deliver a consistent and quality banking experience to our customers each and every day.” 

Arvest Bank has some of the lowest fees in the nation and offers 12-hour weekday banking, along with Saturday hours at many locations.  Arvest also offers many innovative products including mobile banking, a reloadable Spending Card and extensive online banking tools.

“Our associates work very hard to provide our customers with exceptional service, and we have also invested in convenient branch locations, innovative products and online services to allow our customers to do their banking however they prefer,” said Sabin.  “These conveniences in addition to our strong balance sheet, dedicated associates, local management and sound banking principles are all keys to our success.  This is a tremendous honor and we thank all of our customers for entrusting us to care for their financial needs.”

To view more information and ratings overview for the J. D. Power and Associates 2009 Retail Banking Satisfaction Study, visit their website.

About Arvest
Arvest Bank operates more than 220 bank branches in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas through a network of 16 locally managed banks, each with its own board of directors and management team. These banks serve customers in 90 communities with 12-hour weekday banking at most locations. Arvest also provides a wide range of banking services including loans, deposits, treasury management, asset and wealth management, life insurance, credit cards, mortgage loans and mortgage servicing. Arvest operates a mortgage company, asset management company, insurance division and mortgage servicing company. Arvest is an equal housing lender and member FDIC.

About J.D. Power and Associates
Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services company operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, performance improvement, training and customer satisfaction.  The firm’s quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually.  For more information on cell phone ratings, car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance and more, please visit JDPower.com. J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw- Hill Companies.
 

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Winners of the Governor’s Work-Life Balance Awards were recognized at a luncheon today at the Peabody Hotel in Little Rock, Ark.  Nineteen Arkansas employers received awards in the seventh annual ceremony, formerly named the Governor’s Family-Friendly Awards. St. Joseph’s Mercy Health System was named this year’s Ambassador Award. Ambassadors help other Arkansas employers to address work-life balance issues by sharing their expertise and success stories. St. Joseph’s Mercy Health System joins previous ambassadors Allied Therapy and Consulting Services and Baptist Health.

Arvest Bank, Ft. Smith/River Valley Region in Ft. Smith received the Spotlight Award.  Governor Mike Beebe presented the award to John Womack.   “Arvest is excited to get this award that celebrates our culture.  We accept this award on behalf of all our associates as they are the backbone of our company.  It is the least we can do to help them balance the demands of both their work and home lives,” stated John Womack, President & CEO of the Arvest Fort Smith/River Valley Region. 

The Mature Worker Award recognized three companies for their ongoing efforts to provide a work environment friendly to mature workers. The winners were:
•    Arkansas Educational Television Network, Conway
•    Saline Memorial Hospital, Benton
•    Bank of the Ozarks, Little Rock

The awards are presented by the Governor’s Work-Life Balance Initiative, whose mission is to recognize Arkansas employers for establishing and providing resources that support employees in balancing the needs of both work and family.

The winners, based on number of employees, were:
Large Companies:
     •  University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Gold
     •  American Electric Power/Southwestern Electric Power Company, Gentry, Ark.
     •  3M, Rogers, Ark., headquartered in Ramsey, Minn.,  Bronze
     •  Fayetteville Public School District No. 1, Fayetteville, Bronze
Medium Companies:
     • Arkansas Educational Television Network, Conway, Gold
     • Benchmark Group, Rogers, Silver
     • Delta Dental of Arkansas, Sherwood, Silver
     • Rich Mountain Community College, Mena, Bronze
Small Companies:
     • Cross, Gunter, Witherspoon & Galchus, P.C., Little Rock, Gold
     • St. Francis County EMS, Forrest City, Silver
     • Navigator Telecommunications, North Little Rock, Bronze

The Work-Life Balance Initiative also announced the Spotlight Award winners, honoring organizations that provided exemplary strategies that support a healthy work-life balance.
Spotlight Award Winners:
     • Arvest Bank, Ft. Smith and River Valley Region, Fort Smith
     • Child Development Inc., Russellville
     • Daisy Outdoor Products, Rogers
     • Helen R. Walton Children’s Enrichment Center, Bentonville
     • Mid-South Health Systems Inc., Jonesboro
     • Nabholz Construction Corporation, Conway
     • NorthWest Arkansas Community College, Bentonville
     • The Heritage Company, North Little Rock
     • The Procter & Gamble Distributing LLC, Fayetteville
     • University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, Fort Smith
     • White County Medical Center, Searcy

“Happy, productive and loyal employees are the most important asset that any company can have; and helping employees strike the right balance between work responsibilities and home life is not only the right thing to do, it’s smart business,” Governor Mike Beebe said. “It takes real vision to trust that instinct, even in tough economic times, and I want to thank today’s honorees for their leadership.” 

Alma, AR (May 15, 2009) – Today Arvest officially opened its doors to the 24th branch of the Fort Smith - River Valley Region in Alma.  The branch is located at Hwy 64 & Rudy Road, marking Arvest’s entrance into the 10th community of this region.  An ATM is also available and has been in place for the last year. The new branch is a full-service location with drive thru lanes and hours of 7 am – 7 pm.  The facility is approximately 4000 square feet and employs 10-15 associates.

Becky Mayfield is the Branch Manager, having transferred from her previous position as Branch Manager of the Van Buren Cloverleaf location. Natasha Graham is the Assistant Manager.  She was previously the Financial Services Representative at the Van Buren Cloverleaf branch.  Charlotte Gibson is the Consumer Lender/Assistant Vice President.  Charlotte transferred from the Arvest branch in Paris where she was the Branch Manager. 

Arvest Bank has more than 200 bank branches in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas with over 260 ATMs.  Most banking locations are open 12 hours a day during the week.  Arvest also operates a mortgage company, asset management company, insurance division and mortgage servicing company. 

Please be aware of a current telephone based scam being used in an attempt to obtain personal and financial information from consumers.  Protect yourself by reading this description of the scam and by contacting us immediately if you have concerns about information you may have provided over the telephone in this or a similar scenario. 

The consumer would receive an automated telephone call with a recording that is something like this:

"We have great news, we can help you lower your rate on your credit card.  Press 1 to speak with someone."

When 1 is pressed, a live person comes on the line states they can lower your rate down to as low as 3% on your credit card.  During the initial part of the conversation, the person on the telephone may tell you that their bank (in this case Arvest) gave them your telephone number so they could help lower your rate.  This is NOT true, do NOT believe them.  Do not answer any of their questions or divulge any information.  Usually when you begin to challenge the person on the line or ask questions they will end the call.  This type of call is designed to use the promise of a lower rate to obtain your information.  Often these scammers will ask for your credit card, balance owed and available balance.  They may also ask you to confirm PIN numbers, online passwords, social security number and your address.  If you are asked any of this information do not provide it and hang up immediately.

Sometimes these scammers  try to sell services to you under the guise they are working with your bank, again this is would not be true.  They may even berate or try to intimidate you over the phone, do not allow this and hang up at any time you feel uncomfortable.  If you are unsure if the call is from Arvest or not, simply hang up and call us using the number provided from our website or from your statements.

If you or a family member suspect they have given information including card number, balance, available credit, address, PIN number, social security number or any other information as a part of a scam or questionable phone call, please contact us immediately.

The Federal Trade Commission has a great resource for consumers that has more information on telephone, internet and all types of scams.  Take a moment to reference this information to become more familiar with how to prevent falling victim to fraudulent activities.