Legacy National Bank fortifies leadership team with trio of executive promotions

Springdale-based Legacy National Bank announced three promotions on Tuesday (April 2) to bolster its executive leadership team.

Derek Gibson is the company’s new chief operating officer, Jeremy Woody is the new chief lending officer and Julie Lawrence is the new executive vice president of human resources.

“These newly defined roles were designed to set our bank’s customers and employees up for future growth,” CEO and president Patrick Swope said in a statement. “I’m excited about the three who we’ve chosen to accept these challenging roles. The experience and commitment to our team and customers that Derek and Jeremy have really set them apart. And I am more than confident Julie will follow suit with her contributions.”

Gibson has been with Legacy National Bank since it was founded in 2005.

“I appreciate the opportunity to lead and drive the organization forward,” he said. “Continuing to evolve with the industry will be essential to providing the technologies and services our clients need to operate their personal lives and businesses.”

Legacy National Bank hired Woody, a longtime Benton County bank executive, in 2017.

“In addition to giving customers the best service, we want to add value to the relationship,” he said. “The key is listening to their needs, offering solutions, and connecting them with people, products, and services that can help them achieve everything from daily business needs to long-term financial goals efficiently.”

Lawrence joined the company one year ago. She previously worked for Springdale poultry business George’s Inc. Gary George, the company’s chairman, is also the bank’s chairman.

“I have personally experienced the welcoming and individually tailored customer service Legacy National Bank is known for. Being able to join and contribute to this already exceptional culture will be extremely rewarding to me,” she said.

Legacy has 11 locations in Benton and Washington counties. The company built its first three locations in Springdale before branching out with a banking center on Joyce Boulevard in Fayetteville that opened in 2013. A Rogers location opened on Pauline Whitaker Parkway in 2014. A sixth banking center opened in 2018 in Bentonville, at the southwest corner of Walton Boulevard and Southwest 28th Street.

The bank added three locations in Centerton, Gravette and Hiwasse in 2021 when it merged with its subsidiary, Bank of Gravette. The two banks previously operated separately and independently since Legacy Bancshares Inc., Legacy’s holding company, acquired Bank of Gravette in June 2018.

According to the latest data available from the FDIC, Legacy National Bank had $984.5 million in assets as of Dec. 31.