Banks Rush to Pinnacle Hills

First Security Bank opened its full-service, 3,000-SF branch on Dec. 31 in the J.B. Hunt Parkway Tower. So far, it’s been the only bank in Pinnacle Hills proper, but that’s about to change.

Community Bank of North Arkansas has been in its Pinnacle Point location since July of 2000 and Bank of America’s Private Client Group is in Pinnacle Point’s south tower. That doesn’t even include Arvest Bank at nearby Village on the Creeks.

Now the Bank of Rogers recently broke ground on a 9,000-SF, two-story building just across Pinnacle Parkway from First Security. Dick McLelland, chairman and CEO of Bank of Rogers, said he expects a midsummer opening.

Jim Taylor, First Security’s Northwest Arkansas president, said his bank moved to the Pinnacle to “capture some of the charisma going on in that area.”

Cara Conly, vice president and marketing director for First Western Bank & Trust Co., said her bank hopes to break ground on a new branch at 2600 Pinnacle Hills Parkway in the second quarter and open by March of 2005.

Community Bank has two lenders among seven employees in a 3,900 SF-branch. Bob Harrison, Community Bank’s senior vice president, said Pinnacle area competition is a good thing.

“I think it’s going to be great for the area,” Harrison said. “I think it’s a reflection of how vibrant our economy is.”

No information is available yet on the expected bank rush for the planned Pinnacle Hills Promenade retail complex, but the bankers agreed the location will be coveted.