New quarters for banker

You’ve probably heard that James Stobaugh is retiring later this month after a 32-year career with Bank of America Corp. and its predecessors.

But he won’t be a man without an office. Stobaugh says he’s leasing an office in Cooper House, the former boarding house at 9 N. West Ave. in Fayetteville that’s being converted into office space by owners Richard Alexander and R.J. Merry-Ship.

“I’ve given myself a year to do some [recreational] things,” such as hunting, golfing and traveling, Stobaugh says. But he’ll also be thinking about what business avenue to pursue next, and he’ll be able to do that from his new office.

Renovation of the office building is expected to be complete soon. Built in the 1880s as a boarding house for railroad workers, the building was purchased last summer by Alexander and Merry-Ship.

Stobaugh has served as chief executive officer of National Bank of Commerce in Pine Bluff, Worthen National Bank of Northwest Arkansas and Boatmen’s National Bank of Northwest Arkansas before NationsBank Corp.’s acquisition of Boatmen’s. NationsBank acquired BankAmerica.

Don L. Gibson will succeed Stobaugh as senior banking executive/president in Northwest Arkansas.