More Than 60 Years of Serving Our Communities

The story of Arvest is one of commitment started by our founders, an intense dedication to focusing on the customer. This philosophy has remained the same during our growth from a small bank to a community-focused regional bank able to provide a complete range of financial services.

The Arvest story begins in Northwest Arkansas with The Bank of Bentonville, which had $3.5 million in deposits when purchased in 1961; followed in 1963 with the acquisition of an even smaller bank in the nearby town of Pea Ridge. In 1975, another bank was purchased in the neighboring town of Rogers, and for almost a decade afterwards these banks, each locally managed, were the entire banking network now known as Arvest.

In 1984, the company entered an expansion phase by purchasing First National Bank of Siloam Springs. In 1986, it purchased McIlroy Bank & Trust in Fayetteville. During the next two decades, the bank expanded its presence within its home state and in neighboring states through acquisitions in Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. By 2006, the bank was operating more than 200 branches. It had also adopted the name Arvest Bank for all its community banks and grown assets to more than $7 billion.

Since that time, the bank further expanded, including the Springfield, Mo., and Greater Kansas City markets. Most recently, Arvest acquired Bear State Bank, which introduced the bank to new communities in northeast and southwest Arkansas, southern Missouri and southeast Oklahoma.

Today, Arvest has more than 200 banking locations that are part of 14 locally managed banks in more than 110 communities. Total assets now exceed $26 billion.

From a small bank in a small town to a regional bank in towns both small and large, Arvest has and will continue to remain true to the principles and practices that have made it successful in order to guide its future. We will always be active and involved members of the communities we serve and we will always work to put the needs of our customers first as we continue to fulfill our mission - People helping people find financial solutions for life.

Timeline for Arvest Bank Acquisitions or Market Entry

• (1961) Bentonville, Ark. – The Bank of Bentonville
• (1963) Pea Ridge, Ark. – Bank of Pea Ridge
• (1975) Rogers, Ark. – First National Bank & Trust Company
• (1984) Siloam Springs, Ark. – First National Bank of Siloam Springs
• (1986) Fayetteville, Ark. – McIlroy Bank & Trust; first venture outside Benton County
• (1987) Norman, Okla. – A 50% interest in Security National Bank of Norman was acquired through a joint venture with another bank holding company
• (1989) Springdale, Ark. – Relocated charter of Bank of Pea Ridge to start Springdale Bank & Trust
• (1991) Tulsa, Okla. – Village South National Bank and State Federal Savings
• (1992) Prairie Grove, Ark. – Farmers and Merchants Bank
• (1994) Bartlesville, Okla. – WestStar Bank
• (1997) Duncan, Okla. – A 50% interest in Oklahoma National Bank in Duncan was acquired through Norman joint venture; in 1999, Arvest acquired the remaining 50% interest in both the Duncan and Norman banks
• (1998) State Bank of Noel, Mo. – Was acquired and became a branch of The Bank of Bentonville; the first venture into Missouri
• (1998) Joplin, Mo. – Branched into market
• (1998) Del City, Okla. – United Bank
• (1998) Shawnee, Okla. – American National Bank
• (1999) Huntsville, Ark. – First National Bank of Huntsville
• (1999) Fort Smith, Ark. – Branched into market
• (2000) Little Rock, Ark. – Central Bank and Trust was acquired; Arvest’s first venture into central Arkansas
• (2003) Baxter and Marion Counties, Ark. – Acquired Bank of Yellville and opened new branches
• (2003) Superior Federal acquisition – Branches were absorbed by existing markets in Arkansas and Oklahoma
• (2007) Caney, Kan. – Caney Valley National Bank was acquired and joined Arvest Bank, Bartlesville; Arvest’s first entry into Kansas
• (2007) Branson and Springfield, Mo. – Branched into markets
• (2009) Greater Kansas City area – Harrington Bank, SolutionsBank (FDIC assisted transaction)
• (2012) Kansas City, Mo. – Union Bank acquisition
• (2013) Bank of America branch purchase – Acquired 29 locations in 15 communities located in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma
• (2013) Little Rock, Ark. – National Bank of Arkansas was acquired and joined Arvest Bank, Little Rock
• (2018) Little Rock, Ark. – Bear State Bank was acquired, along with many of its branches located in existing markets in Arkansas and Missouri. Arvest Bank entered new markets in northeast and southwest Arkansas, southern Missouri and southeast Oklahoma.