Last edited 4 p.m., Jan. 13, 2010Arvest Bank has named Rodney Shepard president of its Springfield branches. Shepard will succeed Mike Daw, who is stepping down to become chairman of the board during a 12 to 18 month transition period.
Shepard will take the reins as president in early February, said Michael Gandy, marketing officer for Arvest Bank in Springfield.
Daw's succession plan was set in motion in 2008 when he took the job, setting him up to become chairman of the Arvest Springfield board when the bank could find a replacement, Gandy said.
"This has always been the plan from the get-go," Gandy said. "Mike Daw was always going to step aside and guide our new president in the Springfield region."
Shepard is currently the executive vice president and sales manager for Arvest in Fort Smith, Ark.
Gandy, who wasn't involved in the interviewing process, said Arvest chose Shepard as the best person to take over in Springfield.
"We think he's going to do great in this region," Gandy said. "We couldn't think of a a better fit.
"He's had proven success in Fort Smith."
Shepard led Arvest Fort Smith to more than $730 million in assets, according to a news release.
"I look forward to getting settled in the coming weeks and becoming a part of the Springfield community," Shepard said in the release. "There is so much potential for growth for our banks in the area."
Shepard began his career in 1991 at Northwest Financial in Roland, Okla., and he has 20 years of experience working as a consumer lender, a consumer lending manager, a regional market manager and a branch administrator, as well as his most recent roles at Arvest.
Shepard will be responsible for Arvest's three full-service Springfield locations, its two locations in Branson, and its two Nixa and Hollister locations, Gandy said.
In conjunction with the naming of its new Springfield president, Arvest announced it closed last week on the purchase of six acres of land at 4140 S. Fremont, where the company will build a new full-service branch.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
Arvest is now working on having five branches in Springfield, as it purchased the former location of Carson's Nursery at 3184 E. Sunshine St., in August, according to
Springfield Business Journal archives.
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