Arvest's Shepard plans return to Arkansas

After three years in Springfield, Arvest Bank Springfield President and CEO Rodney Shepard is returning to Arkansas. Shepard was named president and CEO of Arvest Bank's Fort Smith market, effective June 1.

The move marks a return to Fort Smith for Shepard, who previously spent 17 years working in the region, most recently as executive vice president and sales manager.

"We have mixed feelings about Rodney going to Fort Smith as he has done an outstanding job in moving our Springfield operation forward over the last few years. We wish him well," said Scott Grigsby, regional president for Arvest Bank, in a news release. "There is a search currently in progress, and we hope to name a new individual to lead this operation soon.
"While trying to find someone as quickly as possible, the overall plan is to find the very best candidate to carry on Rodney's foundation for growth and lead the 150-plus associates to further success."

Established in the spring of 1999, the Fort Smith region has double the locations and triple the assets of the Springfield market, according to spokesman Michael Gandy.

During Shepard's time in the Queen City, he helped grow the Arvest footprint to 13 branches from seven, opening a third Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design branch and overseeing the acquisition of six Bank of America branches in the region. Arvest's market share increased to 2.11 percent as of June, 30, 2013, from 0.79 percent as of June, 30, 2011, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Deposits increased to $208.2 million from $56.8 million during the same time period.

“I’m very excited and grateful to have the privilege to come back to the Arvest customers, associates and the entire community in Fort Smith,” Shepard said in the release. “I was blessed with a wonderful opportunity in Springfield, and now I look forward to bringing all my new knowledge and gained experiences back to the Fort Smith region.”  

Arvest Bank operates more than 260 bank branches in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas.


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