Simmons Bank to close two local branches

Simmons First National Corp. (Nasdaq: SFNC) plans to close two area branches this fall.

Sarah Shafer, a spokesperson for the Pine Bluff, Arkansas-based banking company, said the Springfield branch at 4021 S. Campbell Ave. and its sole location in Greenfield are slated to shutter Oct. 9.

"Our customers’ traffic patterns help tell us how and where they want to bank. When evaluating our service network, we continuously look at traffic as well as customers’ usage of our nearby locations to make sure our branches are effectively positioned," she said via email. "We still have approximately 50 other branches in this region and more than 200 across our seven-state footprint."

Additionally, Shafer cited customers' increased use of mobile and online banking that create less need for in-person branches.

"This is a trend we’re seeing across the industry," she said. "We understand that many people prefer face-to-face banking and our branch network remains the cornerstone of our customer service."

Simmons Bank's website lists four other Springfield branches. The next closest branch to the Greenfield location is about 8 miles away in Lockwood.

Simmons Bank posted first quarter net income of $77.2 million, a jump from $47.7 million in the same quarter of 2019. The company's second quarter results are scheduled to be released July 21, according to its investor relations website.

SFNC shares were trading at $16.93 as of 11:04 a.m., compared with a 52-week range of $13.75 to $27.29.