Forty Under 40: Zach Ledford

Zach Ledford was looking for a new opportunity when he transitioned from a supply chain career to the banking industry. He also wanted to move back to his hometown of Fort Smith to raise his family.

In 2017, he joined First Security Bank in Fayetteville as a business development officer. He worked under mentors Adam Rutledge and David Russell, and within 15 months, he was tapped to lead the bank’s expansion into Sebastian County and became one of the youngest market presidents for the bank.

In late 2018, he moved back to his hometown, and First Security Bank opened the first Fort Smith branch as a business boutique bank downtown. The second Fort Smith location opened this past spring, and another branch is expected to open in early 2024 at Chaffee Crossing.

He oversees 14 employees in the Fort Smith market and focuses on customer service and employee development. He also handles a business lending portfolio and works on projects with clients internally.

Before banking, he worked for Fayetteville-based Blackhive, a commodity food business in supply chain and sourcing. He was one of the business partners and worked there for about 11 years. He helped to transport food into and throughout the United States for clients.

He previously worked at ABF Freight, a less-than-truckload carrier of Fort Smith-based ArcBest. He worked for the company during college and accepted a role working in the Dallas area after graduation. He earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith in 2005.

Ledford serves on the Mercy Foundation Board and Finance Committee and the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education Advisory Council. He enjoys spending time on the lake and hunting.