Newsmakers in Banking & Finance

Carla J. Green joined OakStar Bank as a lending officer on the bank's home lending team. She has 26 years of real estate and banking experience to the position.

Pamela Yancey, consumer sales manager with Regions Bank in Branson, received the Better Life Award in May from Regions Financial Corp. The monthly honor is presented to associates who demonstrate outstanding dedication, job performance and community commitment. Yancey volunteers with Habitat for Humanity, American Cancer Society's Relay for Life and Council of Churches of the Ozarks.

Central Trust and Investment Co., an affiliate of Empire Bank, hired Jim Lumpe as vice president and portfolio manager in its Springfield office. He has 16 years of industry experience and previously served in similar positions at Edward Jones & Co., Bank of America and AG Edwards. Central Trust manages more than $2.8 billion in client assets.

Harold D. Phillips joined Ozark Bank as vice president of branch administration. Phillips has more than 30 years of southwest Missouri banking experience and holds a bachelor's degree in accounting and business administration from Drury University.

Randal Saul and Jared Scott were named directors at BKD Wealth Advisors, a subsidiary of accounting firm BKD LLP. Saul oversees the Springfield practice that provides wealth management services for high-net-worth families and institutions. He graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a bachelor's degree in education, a Master of Arts and a teaching degree in history. He also holds an Accredited Investment Fiduciary designation and has more than 20 years of financial experience. Scott graduated from Missouri State University with bachelor's and master's degrees in accountancy. He has been a qualified pension administrator since 1996 and a certified pension consultant since 1997. Scott has been with BKD for 19 years and provides tax and employee benefit consulting services.

Michael Kellermann joined Commerce Bank's insurance services subsidiary as an insurance adviser. He brings 13 years of industry experience to the company. Kellermann holds a bachelor's degree in business from Missouri State University.

Richard Flores was named a financial adviser at Springfield Investment Services LLC. Flores has seven years of experience as a financial adviser and graduated with a bachelor's degree in finance from North Central College in Naperville, Ill. He specializes in custom retirement plans.

Julie Bilyeu, a certified public accountant with BKD, was promoted to managing consultant for the firm after seven years of service. She is part of the BKD Health Care Billing Services team. She also is a 2006 graduate of the Cox School of Nursing and Health Sciences, where she earned an associate's degree in nursing.

David Fields was promoted to senior manager at BKD after 10 years of service. A certified public accountant, he has worked in the community health center sector since 2000. He provides audit and consulting services on financial and operational issues, accounting internal controls and federal grant reporting for community health centers. Fields has a bachelor's degree in accounting from Southwest Baptist University.

Chris de Leon, vice president of U.S. Bancorp Investments Inc. and U.S. Bancorp Insurance Services LLC in Springfield, was one of 74 financial consultants and advisers to receive the 2008 President's Club Recognition Award. The award is given to candidates who exhibit leadership qualities and dedication to client satisfaction, as well as top district sales numbers.

Josh Laird joined certified public accounting firm Davis, Lynn & Moots PC. He earned his bachelor's degree in accounting from Missouri State University and performs audit services for the company.

For the sixth consecutive year, Nadia Cavner has been named to Barron's Top 100 Women Financial Advisers list. Cavner, an investment adviser at BancorpSouth, was featured on the list based on total assets, compliance ratings, customers' net worth and typical account holdings.

Missouri-based Central Bancompany, a bank holding company, was named one of the Top 25 Performers of 2008 in the June edition of American Bankers Association's Banking Journal. Rankings are based on return on average equity for 2008.