Liberty Bank Makes Local Leaps

Through all the attention paid to the start-up banks and new-to-the-market entrants in the last year, little has been paid to the two area bank acquisitions.

One of those is Liberty Bank of Arkansas, which was formerly Arkansas State Bank of Siloam Springs. The northwest division recently erected a sign on Joyce Blvd. in Fayetteville announcing an intended branch, which will serve as its area headquarters.

Howard Hamilton, president of Liberty’s Northwest Arkansas operation, said the bank plans to have about 10 locations in Benton and Washington counties by mid-2006. There are currently three Siloam Springs offices and one in Gentry and temporary offices in Bentonville and Springdale.

The bank recently closed on property on Sixth Street in Fayetteville, and it has two new properties in Rogers, Hamilton said. Liberty is also in negotiations for a site on Highway 412 in Springdale, another hot spot for area banks.

No word on the Bank of Rogers stepping up its branching strategy after its acquisition by First Bank Corp. of Fort Smith.