Simmons Bank names regional community president

Photo provided by Simmons Bank

Christian Lewis is promoted to the leadership position.

Pine Bluff, Arkansas-based Simmons First National Corp. (Nasdaq: SFNC) named a new regional community president for southwest Missouri.

Christian Lewis was promoted from his role as regional Small Business Administration credit officer for Simmons Bank, according to a news release. He started his banking career in 2011 as a credit analyst for Liberty Bank, which was purchased by Simmons in 2015.

“Christian provides a wealth of expertise, a heart for the community and outstanding leadership traits," said Kevin Gibbens, Missouri division president of Simmons Bank, in the release.

Lewis' LinkedIn profile indicates he started in the new role last month. When contacted late last month, he said a news release on his appointment would be coming soon.

Doug Parker, Simmons' former regional community bank president, was recently hired as southwest Missouri regional president for Little Rock, Arkansas-based Encore Bank, a new player to the market, according to past reporting.

Simmons Bank last month reported a roughly 19% drop in third quarter profits to $65.9 million. As of June 30, Simmons held $443.8 million, or 3.3%, of the deposit share in the Springfield metropolitan statistical area, according to Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. data.

Simmons has 198 employees and 17 branches within 50 miles of Springfield, as well as $805.8 million in assets and $751 million in loans locally, according to Springfield Business Journal list research.