Arvest Bank promotes Shepard to regional executive

Fayetteville-chartered Arvest Bank has tapped longtime executive Rodney Shepard of Fort Smith as regional executive, effective immediately. According to a news release Monday (May 13), he will oversee the company’s banking operations in Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas.

Shepard has been with Arvest for 30 years and most recently was chief customer experience officer since January 2019. Prior to that, he was president of the bank’s Springfield, Mo., and Fort Smith bank markets.

“As chief customer experience officer, Rodney has played a pivotal role in shaping our overall strategic vision while ensuring the customer is at the heart of every business decision we make,” said Arvest Bank Chairman and CEO Kevin Sabin. “I know his experience, leadership capabilities and deep knowledge will continue to have a significant impact as we grow and evolve. In his new role, Rodney’s extensive experience working within and leading our banks in Fort Smith and Springfield will be very beneficial to our local banks and executives with whom he will be working.”

Arvest has two regional executives. Craig Rivaldo of Bentonville is the other.

Shepard is a distinguished alumnus of Carl Albert Junior College in Poteau, Okla. and holds a bachelor’s degree from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Okla.; an MBA from Webster University and is an alumnus of the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La. and the Mid-South School of Banking in Memphis, Tenn.

Shepard replaces Brad Krieger of Edmond, Okla., who retired in April after 28 years with Arvest. Krieger, whose banking career spanned more than 50 years, joined Arvest as regional executive in 1996. During his career, he was a member of numerous industry boards including the Oklahoma State Banking Board since 2007.

“Brad has long been a champion and advocate for the banking industry. He’s a visionary and an innovative leader, and I am honored to follow in his footsteps,” Shepard said. “I’m excited about what the future holds for Arvest and look forward to working and collaborating with my peers as we provide customer-focused financial solutions in the communities we serve.”

Arvest is one of the state’s largest banks, with more than 830,000 retail and business customer households. It has more than 200 locations that are part of 14 locally managed banks in approximately 110 communities in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.

According to the FDIC, as of Dec. 31, 2023, the bank’s total assets were $27.6 billion, and its deposits totaled $21.7 billion.