First Community Bank recruits Simpson, Doyle to establish NWA lending team

Batesville-chartered First Community Bank has hired Austin Simpson and Tim Doyle to lead its Northwest Arkansas lending team. They both previously worked for Bank OZK.

First Community Bank has received regulatory approval to open a full-service branch in Rogers this fall, led by community president Natalie Bartholomew. The location is under construction in the Pinnacle Heights development at 5100 W. Park Ave. The 15-acre mixed-use development is situated at the northwest corner of the Pauline Whitaker Parkway roundabout, south of Hunt Tower.

“First Community Bank has been known for attracting the best talent in the industry, and, once again, we are adding new team members who will make meaningful contributions to our family of professional bankers,” Bartholomew said in a statement. “Both Austin and Tim are excellent additions, and we will continue to look for ways to add new talent and expand our presence while supporting our customers and communities.”

Simpson has been hired as senior vice president and senior regional lender for Northwest Arkansas and has 16 years of banking experience. Doyle has been hired as vice president and commercial lender. He has worked in the banking and commercial title industries for nearly 20 years.

First Community opened 25 years ago with about $3.4 million in assets, 153 shareholders and 14 employees. The company now operates 30 locations in Arkansas (26) and Missouri, employs 520 workers and has assets of $2.06 billion as of March 31, 2022. The bank’s four Missouri branches are in the state’s southwestern corner in Neosho (2), Pineville and Goodman.

According to the FDIC, there are 22 lenders doing business in Rogers and 27 in Benton County.