Farmers and Merchants Bank names Jennifer Hardin NWA market president

Stuttgart-based Farmers and Merchants Bank (F&M) announced the promotion Wednesday (March 31) of long-time employee Jennifer Hardin to Northwest Arkansas market president.

Hardin will oversee the bank’s retail and lending operations at nine locations. F&M acquired The Bank of Fayetteville (BOF) in November 2015 but BOF maintained its trade name doing business in eight branches — five in Fayetteville and one each in Farmington, Prairie Grove and West Fork. F&M also has a full-service branch on Walton Boulevard in Bentonville.

“Jennifer Hardin represents everything we aspire to be for our customers at The Bank of Fayetteville”, said Greg Connell, the bank’s chief retail officer. “Her reputation of integrity, loyalty, and rectitude among our customers and teammates make her the perfect candidate for our Northwest Arkansas market president.”

A West Fork native, Hardin started her 24-year career with BOF as a part-time teller after high school. She has worked as a loan processor, lender and branch manager. Most recently, Hardin held the position of vice president, retail operations officer for all of the bank’s 26 locations across Arkansas.

“I have had the honor of working with some wonderful mentors throughout my career, and one thing that has always resonated with me is the importance of creating community within as well as outside the bank”, Hardin said in a statement. “I am excited for the opportunity to work with our dedicated team to enhance services through digital processes while maintaining the authentic, one-on-one customer experience long associated with The Bank of Fayetteville.”

F&M had $1.68 billion in assets as of Dec. 31, according to the FDIC. That’s up 12.6% from December 2019.