First Community Bank was named Rising Star Lender at the 2015 Region VI Mid-America Lender’s Conference in Dallas on Aug. 31.
Region VI is made up of banks in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
The bank greatly increased its number of Small Business Administration loans over the previous year, according to Linda Nelson, the SBA’s district director for Arkansas. First Community generated 30 small-business loans totaling $3.2 million from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015.
“Working with financial partners and investing in communities by helping fund growing businesses is what the SBA lending program is designed to do, and we are pleased to have our lenders in Arkansas recognized for their work,” Nelson said.
Dale Cole, chairman and chief executive officer of First Community Bank, said seeing growth in small business is a positive sign of a healthy and thriving community. “We’re pleased to help businesses expand,” Cole said. “Small businesses are important to every economy. By supporting these businesses, we are growing a healthier community. As a community bank, we are committed to living up to our motto of putting community first.”
