Regions

Urban Areas Should Give Wal-Mart a Chance (Editorial)

Wal-Mart has been trying for several years to enter the nation?s large cities. Now large urban areas should give the retailer?s planned economic-opportunity zones a chance.

Arkansas Tops District In 4Q Interest Margins

In the fourth quarter of 2005, Arkansas banks collectively had a net interest margin of 4.20 percent, down from 4.23 percent for the same quarter in 2004.

Corporate Credit Cards Produce Bank Revenue

Corporate credit cards help banks make money one swipe at a time. But smaller credit card providers must stay competitive with larger credit card providers like Bank of America and MBNA.

FNB Sees Green in its Communities

The First National Bank in Green Forest has amassed $381.9 million in assets, continuing a steady growth over the past decade that its CEO says was fueled by a 1994 Arkansas law that allowed banks to branch outside of their home county.

First Security Offers Multicultural Banking

A year ago, First Security Bank converted the first floor of its 99-year-old building in downtown Springdale into its Multicultural Banking Center, helping immigrants get checking accounts and home loans.

Spring Training: Area Banks Step Up to Home Plate With Management Training Initiatives

The old adage ?good help is hard to find? seems to fit the local banking industry. And with the influx of several new and new-to-the-market banks, good help is becoming even harder to keep.

Yeager to Work With Banks Through ABA Chair

Tim Yeager, the new associate professor of economics in the University of Arkansas? Walton College of Business, wants to help Arkansas banks manage their interest-rate risk.

State?s Clean Indoor Air Act Evens Playing Field

Gov. Mike Huckabee signs The Arkansas Clean Indoor Air Act, leveling the playing field among businesses, one police official says.

Siam Palace Restaurant To Replace Lemongrass

Lemongrass, a Thai restaurant at the Bentonville Colonnade, closes, and Supha Vandiver plans to open Siam Palace, another Thai restaurant, in the same location at the end of May.

Moe?s Knows Tex-Mex Food

Moe?s Southwest Grill opens in Bentonville, the state’s second Moe’s, offering a menu of tacos, salads, fajita’s and burritos.

San Francisco Bread Co. Gets 3 Stars (Business Lunch)

San Francisco Bread Co. gets 3 stars in our business lunch review.

AHEC Hires New Director

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences hires Dr. Robert R. Gullett Jr. as the new director for the Area Health Education Center in Northwest Arkansas.

Payroll Co. Buys AutoTime of Fayetteville

The Payroll Co. of Springfield, Mo., buys AutoTime, a Web-based time-keeping system, from PayTime Inc. of Fayetteville for an undisclosed sum.

Organizers Start Rolling AVF Ball

About 12 entrepreneurs, investors and economic development leaders gather in Fayetteville to discuss an action plan for the upcoming Arkansas Venture Forum.

Rheem Offers Internet Leads to Contractors

Rheem Manufacturing Co.?s Air Conditioning Division in Fort Smith partners with ServiceMagic Inc. to provide contractors with real-time Internet leads.

Aviation School Expands, Offers Class to NWACC

Bobby Purvis, owner and chief flight instructor of Fort Smith Aviation Academy LLC, receives a contract from the U.S. Air Force to provide flight training to pilots who have finished officer training school.

NWA?s Future Lot Supply Outpaces Market Demand (Market Forecast)

About 8,621 homes sold in 2005 in Benton and Washington counties, according to the Northwest Arkansas Multiple Listing Service, an increase of about 13 percent from 2004 and about 26 percent increase from 2003.

Nexstar to Sell KFTA For $5.6 Million

Nexstar Broadcasting Group Inc. of Irving, Texas, files with the Federal Communications Commission to sell KFTA-TV, Channel 24, in Fort Smith to Mission Broadcasting Inc. of Becksville, Ohio, for $5.6 million.

Equity Broadcasting In $267 Million Merger

Coconut Palm Acquisition Corp., of Boca Raton, Fla., says it will acquire Equity Broadcasting Corp. of Little Rock. The deal is valued at $267.4 million.

KNWA Hires News Director

Fayetteville?s NBC affiliate, KNWA, hires Scott Pickey to be the station?s news director.

Van Buren chamber staff ready to move into new offices

Weyerhaeuser breaks ground on new $500 million facility in south Arkansas

Chinese soybean imports plummet

Connections: Retail innovation week scheduled in September