Guaranty Bank hires operating officer

Guaranty Federal Bancshares Inc., the Springfield-based holding company for Guaranty Bank, announced this morning it has filled its chief operating officer position. The role was left vacant after the February exit of Mark McFatridge, who is now president and CEO of Metropolitan National Bank.

Robin Robeson, who has held management positions at CoxHealth, Pension Consultants, Duck Creek Technologies and The Commerce Trust Co., has stepped into the position of COO and executive vice president for publicly traded Guaranty (Nasdaq: GFED), according to a news release.

“We are very impressed with Robin and her successful, well-rounded management experience in the health care, technology and financial services industries," Guaranty President and CEO Shaun Burke said in the release. "Our board is confident that she will deliver positive results for our company through a focus on top-line revenue generation, growth in banking relationships and operational efficiencies."

As COO, Robeson is responsible for developing, directing and managing the administrative functions of the bank, the release said.

Robeson, who was among Springfield Business Journal's 2001 class of Most Influential Women, also serves as a board member for City Utilities of Springfield and the Ozarks Transportation Organization.

Robeson comes on board after a lackluster second quarter for Guaranty. The company posted $344,000 in earnings, a 56.4 percent decrease compared to profits of $789,000 in second-quarter 2011, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.

The company's shares closed July 27 at $7.07, compared to a 52-week range of $3.84 to $9.50.