Arvest Bank’s Eileen Jennings named Rural Missouri Inc. member

Arvest Bank’s Eileen Jennings has been named a member of Rural Missouri Inc. (RMI).

RMI is a community development corporation based in Jefferson City, Mo., that has announced plans to partner with banks in 10 Arkansas counties to provide SBA 504 loans. The 504 program offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration provides financing for major fixed assets such as equipment and real estate.

RMI has delivered SBA 504 loans for more than 30 years, leveraging more than $1.7 billion in financing and creating more than 19,000 jobs, according to the company.

Jennings, according to an Arvest news release, was elected at RMI’s annual membership meeting April 27-28. Additionally, she will serve on RMI’s Jefferson City, Mo. loan review committee.

Jennings is a senior vice president and area loan manager for Arvest in Fayetteville. She began her career at Arvest in 2004 and has held numerous positions. In addition to launching an internal education effort aimed at helping bankers better understand commercial customers, Jennings was named the 2016 Commercial Banker of the Year by the Central Arkansas Chapter of The Risk Management Association. She also is a board member for Northwest Arkansas Land Trust, and was a member of the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 class in 2014.

“Eileen is a true champion for small businesses,” Arvest loan manager, Craig Shy said. “Her commitment to seeing them succeed is remarkable, and I know she will do a fantastic job for Rural Missouri Inc.”