Forty Under 40: Patrick Swope

Lincoln-native Patrick Swope, 31, earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas in marketing, but he always knew he would go into banking. He wanted to follow the same path as his father, Loyd, who was chairman, CEO and president of the Bank of Lincoln.

Banking is all the younger Swope has ever done. And he’s come full circle from a community bank at The Bank of Fayetteville N.A., where he worked from 1991 to 2000, to a private banker with Bank of America, where he worked for four years. Now he’s back to community banking with Legacy National Bank in Springdale.

He helped organize the fledgling institution, which had assets of $70 million only four months after opening, and said so far, it has been the highlight of his career.

As for his future objectives, Swope said, “I’m where I want to be.” He simply hopes to be serving in the same capacity at a much larger Legacy with the same culture the bank has now, he said.

The secret to the bank’s culture now, he said, is “communication, communication, communication.”

Swope is also a co-chair on the Campaign for Kids, a corporate fundraiser for Arkansas Children’s Hospital, and serves on the United Way of Washington County board.