Howard selected as FNBC community bank president for Independence County

Ryan Howard, the FNBC community bank president for Izard County, will also assume the role of community president for Independence County, according to FNBC Regional President Chad Hudson.

“Ryan is a strong community banker and is very knowledgeable of the Batesville community,” Hudson said. “Since joining our team two years ago, he has been very successful in leading growth in Izard County. I have no doubt he is the right person to lead our Batesville team.”

Howard will replace Mark Skelton , who was recently promoted to senior vice president over the bank’s newly formed small business division. Howard, who has been with FNBC for two years, was promoted to community president for Izard County last year. He has more than 18 years of banking experience. He attended Ozarka College and Arkansas State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business finance. He serves on the Ozarka College Board of Trustees and the Melbourne Industrial Development Commission.

Matt Rush, a commercial loan officer in Batesville, will be located full-time in Melbourne. Alan Price, branch manager for the Batesville office, will take on the additional responsibilities as a loan officer in the Batesville market. An Izard County native and resident, Rush has been with FNBC for two years. He has worked primarily in the Batesville market, and will continue to service existing relationships while working with Howard in Melbourne.

Price has lead the Batesville’s retail team for the past two years. In that role he oversees the daily operations of the branch and leads strategic deposit growth. FNBC Bank, chartered in 1912, is a $450 million-asset community bank headquartered in Ash Flat, Ark. It holds $58 million in assets in Izard County and $41 million in assets in Independence County, according to the organization.