Arvest is pleased to announce that one of our own, Kristy Rockford, consumer lender at Arvest Bank in Springdale, Ark. was named “2011 Ambassador of the Year” at the Springdale Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting held on January 26, 2012 at the Northwest Arkansas Convention Center.   In her role as a Goodwill “Red Coat” Ambassador for the Chamber, Kristy volunteers her time to act as a liaison between the Chamber and the business community.   Some of her responsibilities include welcoming new businesses to the area as well as attending ribbon cutting ceremonies.  Please join us in congratulating Kristy on receiving this prestigious award.

After 31 years of loyal service, David Short of Arvest Bank in Benton County, Ark. will retire as president and CEO of that local market on April 1, 2012.  Dennis Smiley, current president of Arvest Bank in Springdale, will replace Short at that time.  See the following announcement for additional details.

BENTONVILLE, Ark., (January 9, 2012)—Arvest Bank has announced that David Short will officially retire as president and chief executive officer of Arvest Bank in Benton County on April 1, 2012, and that Dennis Smiley, current president of Arvest Bank in Springdale, will replace Short in Benton County.

Until April 1, 2012, both men will continue their current positions and work together for a smooth transition in Benton County and Springdale. Smiley will be working in both organizations to help with the transition in Springdale and to meet and visit with the associates of Arvest, Benton County.

“We appreciate and honor David’s long, distinguished career of serving Arvest customers for the past 31 years. He has exemplified customer-focused banking for everyone in the company and has led by example throughout his career. David’s retirement opens the door for another leader, Dennis Smiley, who has shown an equal passion for serving our customers.  We are fortunate to have outstanding young leaders throughout the bank and Dennis has proven to be just such a person,” said Scott Grigsby, executive vice president and regional manager for Arvest Bank Group.

Dennis Smiley joined Arvest in 1989 working as a commercial loan officer with McIlroy Bank in Fayetteville. In 1991, he joined the then-Springdale Bank and Trust as a loan manager and moved to sales manager in 1999. He was promoted to his current position of president and chief executive officer of Arvest Bank, Springdale, in 2001.

Smiley is a graduate of the University of Arkansas with a bachelor’s of arts degree in political science and a master’s degree in business administration. He is a graduate of the Stonier School of Banking sponsored by the American Bankers Association. He has served as an instructor both at the Arkansas School of Bank Management and The Walton Institute.
Smiley is active in a variety of community service organizations, including current chairman of the board for the Endeavor Foundation, the Care Foundation and  Northwest Arkansas Community College Foundation. He is currently involved with Ozark Guidance Center Foundation, Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, The Jones Center for Families, The Arts Center of the Ozarks and Springdale Rotary Club.

Smiley and his wife, Cynthia Smiley, are the parents of Jessica and Joseph, both of whom attend the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

David Short has served as the president and chief executive officer of Arvest Bank, Benton County since 2009. Prior to that he was president and chief executive officer of Arvest Bank, Bentonville since 1998; chairman, president and chief executive officer of WestStar Bank in Bartlesville, Okla., from 1994 to 1998; and president and chief executive officer of First National Bank of Siloam Springs from 1986 to 1991.

Short started with the Arvest family of banks at the Bank of Bentonville as a vice president and loan officer in 1980 and was promoted to senior vice president and operations manager in 1982. He served as a loan manger in 1984, and was promoted to executive vice president and sales manager in 1986. He has also served as a senior vice president and leasing representative for First Arkansas Leasing Corp., Worthen Bank, in Little Rock from 1976 to 1980 and as assistant vice president and branch manager for First Commercial Bank in Little Rock from 1973 to 1976.

Short is a current board member for Northwest Arkansas Community College Foundation and Downtown Bentonville, Inc. He is a member of the Rogers Rotary Club. He has served as a past chairman for the State Banking Board, the Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Bentonville and the Bentonville/Bella Vista Adult Chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and is a past board member of Bentonville Public Schools Foundation, Bentonville Cancer Challenge, past treasurer for the Benton County Razorback Club and a past board president for the Beaver Water District.

He and his wife, Deb, have three adult children and seven grandchildren.
 

Due to immediate maintenance issues, Arvest in Branson, Mo. at 123 Branson Landing Blvd. will be CLOSED Friday, Jan. 13.  The branch will be open during normal business hours Monday, Jan. 16 at 9:00am.  We apologize for any inconvenience.

For in-branch assistance, please visit Arvest in Branson, Mo. at 5601 Gretna Rd. or in Hollister, Mo. at 139 Gage Dr.

For your convenience, you can bank 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: 

Arvest Mobile Banking - register through Arvest Online Banking 
Arvest Online Banking - register at a branch or call us 
24-Hour Account Information Line - register at a branch or call us   
ATM - click here to find a location or find one using the myArvest app on your iPhone
 

Arvest Bank in downtown Fayetteville, Ark. will host a reception on Monday, Jan. 16 to honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The event is open to the public.  For details about this event, see the announcement below.

WHAT: Arvest Bank, Fayetteville will host a reception in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday. Tamla Lewis, Associate General Counsel, Office of General Counsel for the University of Arkansas, will be the featured speaker. She will speak about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s accomplishments and the influence he has had on her personal life.

The winners of the annual essay contest will be announced. The purpose of the annual contest is to encourage students to think about Dr. King's legacy in the community. The Holcomb Elementary School Honor Choir and the St. Joseph Youth Choir will also perform songs. 
 
WHEN:  Monday, January 16, 2012 at 2 p.m.

WHERE:   Arvest Bank
                  75 N. East Ave.

WHO: Tamla Lewis, Associate General Counsel, UA Office of General Counsel
            Holcomb Elementary Honor Choir
            Paula Aldama, Holcomb Elementary School Choir Director
            St. Joseph Youth Choir
            Martha Molina, St. Joseph Choir Director
            Marcia Diamond, St. Joseph Principal
            Donny Story, president of Arvest Bank
            Community Members
            Arvest Associates
 

Arvest associates in Kansas City, Mo. will donate over $11,000 to twelve local charities through the Casual for a Cause program for the 2011 year.  Casual for a Cause is a program gives associates the opportunity to support their local community by making a donation to the month’s featured charity for the opportunity to wear jeans on Fridays.  Charities are selected from a list of associate recommendations and each month, information about the charity and its mission is shared with associates to not only generate financial support, but also awareness for the charity. 

Featured charities in 2011 included Special Olympics, the Humane Society, Autism Speaks, Cystic Fibrosis, Harvesters, Joplin Tornado Relief, the American Cancer Society,  Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired, Christmas in October, Families Together, Christmas Families and the Make a Wish Foundation.

Associates appreciated the opportunity to give back to those organizations that have provided assistance to their family, friends, or those living within their local community.  Greater Kansas City is in the process of selecting the Casual for a Cause charities for 2012 and associates look forward to making a positive impact on their local community again this year.
 

During this time of the year, many are thinking about gift giving and present wrapping.  However, one gift most people may never think of is the gift of life.  On Wednesday, December 21, Arvest in Fayetteville, Ark. held a blood drive at their Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. branch for the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks.  The blood drive was open to both Arvest associates and the public.  By the end of the day, the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks and Arvest completed their donation goal for the blood drive.

Lora Witcher, donor recruiter for the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks, said, “Thank you so much for a very good blood drive. We were able to register in 19 donors and collected 17 donations! And remember, we were able to save 51 lives here in Northwest Arkansas! What an amazing Christmas gift!”

From Arvest in Fayetteville, thank you to the associates and customers who participated in this year’s successful blood drive.
 

Each year, Arvest Bank in Huntsville, Ark. holds a holiday coloring contest with the Huntsville elementary schools.  The winner’s artwork is featured on the front of Arvest Bank’s Christmas cards and in the school’s holiday community message that is published in the Madison County Record.

Arvest is proud to announce that this year’s winner is Cassie Turner from Mrs. McLoure’s third-grade class at Watson Intermediate School.   During a special class assembly held on Dec. 16, Arvest presented Cassie with a $25 Arvest Visa Gift Card, an Arvest backpack and lunch bag and an honorary plaque for her wonderful winning artwork.  Arvest wishes to thank all of the students for their participation in this fun holiday event!     

It's the most wonderful time of the year ... to buy toys and gifts for children. Here are some very basic tips to consider before and after purchasing a new toy, to be sure you are making safe choices for the children in your life:

• Read all warnings and instructions.
• Consider a child's ability, rather than age, when purchasing toys; age warnings on toys are not guarantees of safety.
• Buttons, batteries, and magnets can be very dangerous if swallowed.
• Small parts are a choking hazard for children under three.
• Toys that need to be plugged in pose the risk of electrical shock or burn; choose battery-operated toys instead.
• Store toys properly after play to avoid trips and falls or access by younger children.
• Keep older children's toys away from younger children.

For more resources visit these Websites:

Holiday Safety Tips from American Academy of Pediatrics
http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/novtips.cfm

Comprehensive Safe Toy Checklist from Prevent Blindness America
www.preventblindness.org/children/safetoys.html

Recalled Toys from Consumer Product Safety Commission
http://www.recalls.gov/ 
 

(By clicking on external links, please be aware you will be leaving the Arvest website.)