Tag: Banking & Finance

Metro Foreclosure

Developers John Nock, Brandon Barber and Hank Broyles are facing a foreclosure on their condominium and loft project in Fayetteville.

Client Mix Key to Growth for Architects, Engineers

While some architecture and engineering firms were forced to downsize in 2009, citing a continued lack of building activity in both the commercial and residential sectors, many firms have been able to increase their staff size this year by maintaining a m

Northwest Arkansas Has Lost its Immunity Card (Commentary by Jeff Collins)

Northwest Arkansas is not immune to the worst recession since the Great Depression, even though it was barely noticed in the previous two recessions.

Business Owners Look for Bright Spots

Entrepreneurs, from green builders to cosmetics consultants, are seeing some positive effects of the economy as consumers prioritize their wants and needs.

TASCO Tackles Problem Assets

Gary Hirshberg, president of PMW Inc., is taking advantage of the economic downturn to diversify his business.

Arvest Bank Fails in Two Bids

Arvest Bank has made two unsuccessful bids for failed banks this year.

Delta Asks for Move to Fayetteville

Delta Trust & Bank filed an application on April 15 with the Arkansas State Bank Department to relocate an office from Gravette to Fayetteville.

General Growth Properties Goes Bust

The inevitable Chapter 11 filing by General Growth Properties came April 16, achieving the dubious distinction of being the largest real estate bankruptcy ever.

Bankers’ Opinions Mixed on CPP Funds

Eight Arkansas banks have received a total of $264.5 million from the CPP since December in exchange for preferred stock that pays the U.S. Treasury a 5 percent annual dividend.

Arvest Closes $500M in 1Q Mortgage Apps; BOZ Posts Record Profit (Industry notes)

Arvest Mortgage Co. closed a record $500 million in mortgages during the first quarter. The company closed $1.04 billion total mortgages during calendar 2008.

Priority Bank Tops in Return on Equity List

Priority Bank, an Ozark-based thrift, topped the ROE chart with an adjusted 46.63 percent, and saw an increase from 35.22 percent ROE in 2007.

Charlie Cross Builds Cornerstone Bank

Eureka Springs has fostered one of Northwest Arkansas’ most successful community banks.

Standards Tighten in Secondary Mortgage Market

Mortgage brokers and lenders insist that despite endless repetition in the media about the economy, reports that credit markets are “frozen” are untrue.

Women Business Owners Find Value in Networking

After reading an article about marketing to female entrepreneurs, Lorrie Madden wanted to form a group geared toward women business owners in Northwest Arkansas.

Lane Joins St. Louis Fed’s Real Estate Council

Steven P. Lane, a principal of Colliers International in Bentonville, has joined the Real Estate Industry Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

Top Grossing Northwest Arkansas Realtors List Shrinks in Soft Market

There are 233 realtors on the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal’s Top Grossing Real Estate Agents list, down from a total of 313 realtors in 2007.

Tax Changes to Benefit Builders, New Buyers

The $787 billion stimulus package passed by Congress in February contains a pair of tax changes that could help the real estate market in Northwest Arkansas.