NEA C-Suite: Davy Carter

How would you describe your company? Centennial Bank is one of the strongest and most reliable banks in the country. We value our customers, local communities, shareholders, and associates, and work hard every day to produce positive results for them all. We are particularly proud of all of our relationships across Northeast Arkansas and with Arkansas State University. We care about our community and are proud to be a big part of it.

What is the best business advice someone has ever given you? I have been blessed to have worked with Johnny Allison (the chair and CEO for Home BancShares the parent company for Centennial Bank) for over two decades, and that experience has taught me more than I can articulate here or anywhere else. Running any business is hard work, and I respect all of those who are out there doing it. From all the lessons I’ve learned through the years, two stand out to me as important factors for any business to be a top performer. First, “nothing happens until something is sold.” I love that quote from him because it’s a simple but powerful truth. You must have people on your team who can build relationships and generate revenue, or the wheels never start turning. Second, it is imperative to stay on top of your company’s balance sheet and profit and loss (P&L) and remain disciplined and efficient in company operations.

If you had $1 million to give, what would you support? That’s a tough question. I would probably allocate it to Arkansas State University Athletics and other organizations that are focused on helping advance the Arkansas Delta.

Do you think Artificial Intelligence (AI) can take jobs in your industry? We are all learning about AI in real time, and no industry is immune to it, including banking. Can it take jobs? Yes, I’m sure it will at some point. Will it in the near term? The jury is still out.

Which skills do you think are most important when it comes to leadership? Listening, consistency, discipline, focus, effective communication, and the ability to make a decision are the skills needed by any leader in any organization.

If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be and why? I would trade places with myself 35 years ago because it would be nice to know then what I know now. And if that wasn’t an option it would have to be Bobby Flay.

What’s your favorite television show? All of my friends know that I quote “Seinfeld” regularly. It’s the best television show of all time. A close second? That would have to be “Cheers.”

When you were growing up, what did you want to be? I wanted to be Michael Jordan. Everybody wanted to “Be like Mike.”

What is the most used app on your phone? The most used app on my phone is Twitter (now referred to as X). Old habits are very hard to break.

What are your thoughts on working from home? When it comes to working from home there are several factors that must be considered. It’s important to understand a company’s culture and be around a team in order to be a top performer. There may be exceptions, but generally speaking, I prefer to be in the office.