News

BATESVILLE – September 14, 2016 – Operating a foreign car repair business in historic downtown Batesville might seem like a foreign concept to some, but not to Al and Sarah May, owners of May Auto Repair.

The new shop specializes in servicing and repairing foreign vehicles, including Volkswagen, Audi, Toyota, Lexus and others.  “We are trying to build that clientele,” said Al May.  “We do everything we can: diagnose, computer, mechanical, electrical – everything but tires.”

Construction will begin in early 2017 on a new five-story, 60,000-square-foot Citizens Bank headquarters building in Batesville. Positioned on one of the highest points in town, the structure will provide sweeping views of the community where Citizens Bank was founded more than 60 years ago.

“This new building will be a visible sign of Citizens Bank’s commitment to the community,” said Phil Baldwin, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are excited, too, about providing numerous opportunities for local subcontractors and laborers during the construction phase.”

Continued expansion brings new talent to develop marketing strategy

BATESVILLE – September 6, 2016 – Phil Baldwin, President and CEO of Citizens Bank of Batesville, has announced two new marketing positions.  Baldwin named Don Hale as Senior Vice President of Marketing and Tim Byers as Vice President of Marketing.

BATESVILLE – January 20, 2016 – Ron Lewallen of Batesville will observe two major milestones next week. On Tuesday, Jan. 26, Lewallen will celebrate his 64th birthday. On Friday, Jan. 29, he will end a 27-year career as a loyal employee of Citizens Bank. It would be an understatement to say that Lewallen is a native, since he was born in Batesville, graduated from Batesville High School and the former Arkansas College (now Lyon College), and has worked his entire career in Batesville. After a short stint as a real estate agent, Lewallen transitioned into banking.

BATESVILLE – January 6, 2016 – Citizens Bank today announced the introduction of a new Travel Club for bank customers and their guests, representing an exciting renewal of a very popular program the bank had previously offered.
The inaugural meeting of the Travel Club will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 11, in the Citizens Bank Community Room at 285 College Street in Batesville.

BATESVILLE – August 11, 2015 – Citizens Bank today announced the hiring of Bruce Hankins as Vice President and Manager of Retirement Plans within the bank’s Trust Department, according to Robin Brock, Senior Vice President and Trust Officer. 

“Bruce will play a key role in the Trust Department as the bank continues to grow and expand its services, particularly in the area of financial services,” Brock said.  “His background adds a wealth of knowledge and experience that will prove very valuable both to the Trust Department and our bank.”

BATESVILLE, Ark. – August 5, 2015 – Seven inventive curriculum projects conceived by Batesville educators will be implemented through $15,000 in grants provided by the Fifth Annual Citizens Bank Education Initiative for the Batesville School District. 

BATESVILLE, Ark. – July 28, 2015 – Five projects conceived by ten Southside educators will share in $5,000 in funding through the Third Annual Citizens Bank Education Initiative for the Southside School District.  This year’s Southside grant recipients were announced at an awards banquet Monday night at Elizabeth’s Restaurant.

BATESVILLE – July 23, 2015 – Citizens Bank was named Industry of the Year and Leader of the Year, and also received a Pinnacle Award as United Way of North Central Arkansas hosted its annual awards reception on Thursday, July 23, at Lyon College.

United Way celebrated those in our community that choose to give back.  United Way’s mantra is GIVE. ADVOCATE. VOLUNTEER. LIVE UNITED., and the group of individuals that were honored do just that.

BATESVILLE – July 20, 2015 – The Nettleton Raiders and Wynne Yellowjackets will return as defending team champions at the 2015 Citizens Bank Pioneer Invitational High School Golf Tournament to be held Tuesday, Aug. 4, at The Course at Eagle Mountain.  The tournament, now in its third year, will open the 2015 season for golfers from Batesville, Forrest City, Greene County Tech, Nettleton, Paragould, Southside, Valley View and Wynne. 

BATESVILLE – June 23, 2015 – A full afternoon and evening of entertainment will precede the region’s premier fireworks display as Citizens Bank hosts its 18th consecutive “Celebrate America” event on Saturday, the Fourth of July, in Riverside Park in Batesville. 

PLEASANT PLAINS – June 16, 2015 – Maribeth Nardecchia, a Math Teacher at Midland High School, was named Monday as recipient of the “Citizens Bank Above & Beyond Award” for the Midland School District. 

The “Above & Beyond Award” recognizes school staff members for exceptional service to students, parents, their school, peers and the district.  Midland School personnel nominated Ms. Nardecchia for the award, which included a certificate from the Board of Education and a $50 gift card from Citizens Bank. 

BATESVILLE – May 28, 2015 – Citizens Bank and other local businesses will host a “Feed the Funnel Party” as a World Hunger Day event today in Batesville.

BATESVILLE – May 18, 2015 – Robin Fox, Pre-School Special Services Paraprofessional, was named Monday as the May 2015 recipient of the “Citizens Bank Above & Beyond Award” for the Batesville School District. 

BATESVILLE – April 29, 2015 – Staff members of White River Health System, its Oncology Clinic and Foundation met Monday with the Red Hot Ladies Luncheon Committee to accept a $7,400 donation for the “Ribbons of Hope” program. 

The contribution represented the proceeds from Citizens Bank’s 10th Annual Red Hot Ladies Luncheon, silent auction and raffle. 

BATESVILLE – April 20, 2015 – Clint Lucy, Technology Coordinator for the Batesville School District, was named Monday as the April 2015 recipient of the “Citizens Bank Above & Beyond Award” for the Batesville School District. 

BATESVILLE – April 20, 2015 – A total of $7,400 was raised for “Ribbons of Hope” during Citizens Bank’s 10th Annual Red Hot Ladies Luncheon, silent auction and raffle, all of which was held at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville. 

The luncheon was attended by more than 250 women despite being postponed by a winter storm from its original date in February. 

HOT SPRINGS – April 15, 2015 – Citizens Bank was named recipient of the “Human Resources Best Practice Award” at the 2015 Arkansas SHRM HR Conference & Expo, held April 10 at the Hot Springs Convention Center.

The HR Best Practice Award is awarded each year to a company that demonstrates the importance and positive impact that strong HR practices can have within an organization.  The purpose of the award is to recognize an organization that aligns successful HR programs and practices with the company’s business objectives.

Pam Jones (left) of Citizens Bank sweetens the day for Deanna Richardson (from left), Lisa Wetteland and Susie Slisher of Richardson Accounting on Tuesday to help celebrate the end of the 2014 Tax Season.  Personnel from Citizens Bank fanned out across the Batesville area on Tuesday to deliver cookies and other treats to accounting firms and tax preparation offices, knowing their employees might appreciate a nice snack as the April 15 tax filing deadline approached.

HOT SPRINGS – April 13, 2015 – Longtime Hot Springs resident David Wooldridge leads a team of local banking professionals who have helped open the first Citizens Bank branch near the Hot Springs Mall and are already opening a second branch on Airport Road.

BATESVILLE – March 20, 2015 – Jennifer Wright has been promoted to the position of Retail Manager and Consumer Loan Officer at the Imboden branch of Citizens Bank.

“Jennifer has been a valuable member of our Imboden team for more than nine years and we are pleased to announce this well-deserved promotion,” said Phil Baldwin, Citizens Bank President and Chief Executive Officer.  “We believe Jennifer has the experience and capabilities to help contribute to the continued growth of Citizens Bank, both in Imboden and across the North Central Arkansas region.”

BATESVILLE – March 16, 2015 – Joy Camden, who serves as Treasurer for the Batesville School District, and Patty Mishark, a Sixth Grade Literacy Teacher at Eagle Mountain Magnet, were named Monday as the February and March 2015 recipients of the “Citizens Bank Above & Beyond Award” for the Batesville School District. 

BATESVILLE – February 12, 2015 – More than 350 women are expected to attend Citizens Bank’s “Red Hot Ladies Luncheon” on Friday, February 20, in Independence Hall at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville.  The annual event focuses on raising women’s awareness of health issues and promoting good habits for healthy lifestyles. 

BATESVILLE – February 3, 2015 – Citizens Bank has donated the former Ivory Owl gift shop building on South Saint Louis Street to the city’s Parks & Recreation Department.  The city is currently dismantling and relocating the structure to the North Athletic Complex. 

“The city thanks Citizens Bank for generously offering this building to us,” said Mayor Rick Elumbaugh.  “This structure will help us create a maintenance shop that we badly need at the North Complex – and will save the city thousands of dollars, too.”

BATESVILLE – January 26, 2015 – The Independence County Sheriff’s Department has gained a much-needed training and meeting facility with the donation from Citizens Bank of its former Westside Branch building in Batesville.  The building will be used by the Department’s Community Relations Team for meetings and preparing programs that the team will be presenting to the community.