The River Company, Rogers Insurance merge to form ANKR
by March 6, 2025 2:43 pm 533 views
Independent agencies The River Company and Rogers Insurance have merged to create ANKR, one of the largest insurance and payroll firms in Arkansas, the firms announced Thursday (March 6). Financial terms were not disclosed.
The release shows Westan Insurance Group in Junction, Texas, a partner agency with The River Company, also will be integrated into the new company. It will operate under the ANKR brand, and full integration is expected by Jan. 1. A new website will be launched as part of the process in the next few months.
ANKR is based in Rogers and Little Rock and has offices in towns including Clinton, Charleston, DeQueen, Mountain View, Booneville, and Mena. It has 80 employees in Arkansas and Texas and licensure in more than 40 states. ANKR offers insurance, bonds, payroll, and tax services to clients in more than 40 states, including Arkansas.
“This is a big step forward for our teams, our clients, and our industry,” said Matt Stewart, president of The River Company and the newly-formed ANKR. “We’re able to offer deeper expertise, more resources and an expanded lineup of services — all while keeping the personal service our clients know and trust.”
Over the past decade, central Arkansas-based The River Company has completed five acquisitions and expanded to include payroll and tax services alongside its insurance offerings. Rogers Insurance was established more than 100 years ago and has offices in central and Northwest Arkansas.
“We’re combining two teams that share a commitment to putting clients first,” said Brad Bridgers, vice president of ANKR. “It’s not just about growing bigger — it’s about making sure every client gets smarter, faster, and more complete service.”
According to the release, the name ANKR is pronounced “anchor.” Clients will continue to work with the agents they know during the transition. Over the coming months, signage, billing, statements, and other materials will gradually reflect the ANKR brand.
“This is about building something strong, sustainable and independently-owned for the future,” said Brad Julian, vice president of ANKR. “With our combined expertise and shared values, we have an incredible opportunity to make a lasting impact for our clients and our industry.”