Graycen Bigger hired as FNBC’s strategic partnerships assistant vice president

Graycen Bigger has been hired by FNBC as its new strategic partnerships assistant vice president where she will work closely in support of the bank’s CDFI-designation.

In this newly created role for FNBC, Bigger will forge community connections, enhance FNBC’s presence in the community, foster strategic partnerships and promote financial education. In addition to her role at FNBC, Bigger is also the executive director of the Northeast Arkansas Regional Intermodal Facilities Authority, which promotes job creation, improving infrastructure, and workforce development.

“We are thrilled to have Graycen join our team of community bankers,” said FNBC President & CEO Marty Sellars. “She has played an important role in some of our area’s most recent economic development success by working tirelessly to connect industry leaders to Northeast Arkansas. As a community bank, we understand we play a vital role as a catalyst for economic development, and adding Graycen to our team will only further our mission.”

In 2016, FNBC was awarded Community Development Financial Institution designation by the CDFI Fund, part of the U.S. Department of Treasury, which indicates the bank has devoted at least 60% of its total lending, services and other activities to benefit low-income communities. This designation allows FNBC to be eligible for grant opportunities to ensure fair access to financial resources for underserved people and communities.

“We may have only received our CDFI designation in 2016, but FNBC has been serving the CDFI mission for more than 110 years,” said Dana Batterton, FNBC Executive Vice President, Chief Risk Officer and CDFI-lead for the bank. “I’m looking forward to working with Graycen to identify and build key partnerships to create even greater opportunities for the communities we serve.”

“I’ve had the opportunity to partner with FNBC on various economic projects and have always been impressed by their culture and unwavering commitment to community,” said Bigger. “They’ve built an incredible team to support strategic growth across North Arkansas and Southern Missouri, and I look forward to learning from some of the best in banking. This exciting new role as AVP Strategic Partnerships, coupled with my position at the NEA Intermodal, will strengthen community development efforts throughout our region.”