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Leadership Profiles

Betty Wilkinson

Chairman of the Board

Elizabeth Wilkinson is chairman of the board of Farmers Bank, as well as the chairman of the Wilkinson Banking Corporation. She was named president of Farmers Bank in 1975 and became the chairman in 1991. She has worked in every area at Farmers Bank. Her areas of responsibility include: chairman of the Board of Directors with the bank and the holding company, leadership and corporate governance, compliance, strategic planning, budgeting and risk management. Her previous titles include president and chief executive officer. Mrs. Wilkinson is also a member of several professional organizations. She was nominated by Senator Dale Bumpers for the U.S. Cabinet position of the Secretary of the Treasury, appointed by Governor David Pryor and re-appointed by Governor Frank White to the Arkansas State Banking Department Board of Directors.

Mrs. Wilkinson earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Central Arkansas, where she graduated with high honors. She then attended the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University, where she was the first woman to graduate from this prestigious curriculum.

In addition to her corporate expertise, Mrs. Wilkinson also provides an incredible record of service to her community. She served as a teacher at Hartford High School and Greenwood High School, an elder at Central Presbyterian Church, and is active in both the Greenwood Chapter of the Eastern Star and the Friends of the Library. She is also currently an active volunteer at the William J. Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock.

Stanhope Wilkinson

Chief Executive Officer

Stanhope Wilkinson has been the chief executive officer at Farmers Bank since 1994, but his employment at the bank dates back to his boyhood. Stanhope started in the maintenance department, worked into a teller position, then was promoted to bookkeeper. Through the years he has worked his way up the corporate ladder, serving as vice president, president and now CEO. He uses his vast experience to lead business development, marketing, public relations and collections for Farmers Bank.

Stanhope was graduated from Greenwood High School in 1976, studied at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville where he attained a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1980. He went on to sharpen his banking skills at the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University, graduating in 1984.

Stanhope is extremely involved in his lifelong community of Greenwood. He is a member of the Lion's Club, Greenwood High School Booster Club and the Greenwood Masonic Lodge. He is an active member of the Greenwood Volunteer Fire Department and has also served as past president of the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce. He and his family attend Central Presbyterian Church in Fort Smith, where he serves as an Elder.

Stanhope enjoys spending time with his family, running, and still works in time to play a round or two of golf when the weather permits.

Ed Wilkinson

President, Chief Operating Officer

Ed Wilkinson is President, Chief Operating Officer and Cashier of Farmers Bank, and President and Chief Executive Officer of Wilkinson Banking Corporation. He began his banking career at Farmers as a teller and bookkeeper in 1977 and was named president in 1994.

Ed was raised in Greenwood and literally grew up at the bank. A 1979 graduate of Greenwood High School, he went on to graduate from the University of Arkansas, College of Business Administration, with both Bachelor and Master of Business Administration degrees. He continued his education in banking, having graduated from the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University and from Louisiana State University's Professional Master of Banking curriculum. He is also a graduate of an executive education program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Ed received a commission into the U.S. Navy, where he graduated from the U.S. Naval Supply Corps School in Athens, Georgia. He also graduated from Air University, Joint Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB. He currently holds the rank of Commander in the Navy Reserve and was Commanding Officer for a detachment that supported activities in Bahrain.

Ed was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives in 1994 and served six years.

In 2000 he was elected to the Arkansas Senate, where he serves as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and also on the Joint Budget Committee.

Ed is very active in his community, having served as president of the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce and charter president of the Rotary Club of Greenwood. He serves on the Greenwood Volunteer Fire Department, is past master of the Masonic Lodge, past patron of the Eastern Star, past president of the Fort Smith Shrine Club and past wise master of the Western Arkansas Scottish Rite Bodies.

He is in the Legion of Honor of DeMolay International and is an honorary 33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason. He is a member of the Knights Templar in the York Rite and a member of the Red Cross of Constantine. He is a life member of the Greenwood VFW and was the 2004 recipient of the Chamber of Commerce Greenwood Citizen of the Year award.

Ed enjoys spending time with his wife, LaDonna, and his son, Daniel.

Norman Wilkinson

General Counsel

Norman Wilkinson began his career at Farmers as a teller and a bookkeeper, eventually working his way up to general counsel. He became a director in 1992. Norman is involved in strategic planning, budgeting and risk management. He serves on the trust and compliance officer.

Norman attended the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville where he earned both a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in accounting and a law degree. He is a licensed attorney and certified public accountant. He practiced law for 16 years and later served for 10 years as circuit judge for the 12th Judicial District.

Norman is highly active in his community, and is past president of the Downtown Sertoma Club in Fort Smith and a board member of the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce. He also belongs to the Goddard United Methodist Church, the Fort Smith Boys and Girls Club Alumni Association and is a former board member of the Fort Smith Art Center. He served as master of Sebastian Lodge in Fort Smith.

Professionally, Norman is involved in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants, the Sebastian County Bar Association, the Arkansas Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Western Arkansas Estate Planning Council.

He is an avid marathoner, having qualified for and completed the Boston Marathon the past four years. His personal interests include running, reading, traveling and playing with his grandchildren.

Susan Wilkinson

Director

Susan Wilkinson is a director on the board at Farmers Bank. She has worked with a state education grant program for the past nine years -- teaching adult continuing education classes at various locations, including Goodwill Industries and Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield in Little Rock.

Susan earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville in 1981, majoring in finance and banking. She received her master's degree in adult education in 1996 from the University of Arkansas in Little Rock.

Susan is involved in many activities with her 18-year-old daughter, Elizabeth Fiser. She volunteers at Central High School and Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Little Rock.

Tresa Lowe

Senior Vice President

Tresa Lowe began her career with Farmers Bank as an administrative assistant. Her banking skills and acumen meant a promotion to assistant vice president, and later to vice president. In June of 2000, Tresa was promoted to senior vice president with duties encompassing human resources, investment accounting, administration, compliance reporting and loans.

Tresa is a graduate of Greenwood High School, attended Basic Lending School through the Arkansas Bankers Association and has completed a number of ongoing courses through the American Institute of Banking.

Tresa is an active member of the Greenwood Kiwanis Club and attends the Greenwood First Assembly of God Church. When she is not handling banking affairs, she treasures spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. She enjoys shopping, reading and attending ballgames.

Jim Cunningham

VP, Loan Officer

Jim Cunningham is the vice president and loan officer. He began his career here in 2002. Jim was graduated from Mansfield High School and studied at Westark College in Fort Smith. From there his education included courses in both lending and management through the Arkansas Bankers Association. Additionally, he has taken courses in general banking, consumer credit and commercial lending through the American Bankers Association. He is also a graduate of Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Jim is a valued member of his community, serving as the assistant fire chief of the Huntington Volunteer Fire Department. He is treasurer of the Mansfield/Huntington Area Chamber of Commerce. In his free time he enjoys hunting, fishing, golf, and spending time with his family.

Denise Kohler

VP, Assistant Trust Officer

Denise Kohler is Farmers Bank's vice president, assistant trust officer, BSA officer and supervises all branch operations. Denise was graduated from Southside High School in Fort Smith and has attended ongoing banking courses through the American Institute of Banking. She is a member of the Greenwood Rotary Club and participates in many community activities. Denise loves spending time with her family, which includes four children and six grandchildren. She enjoys boating, traveling, four-wheeling, decorating, and antique shopping.

John Bailey

VP, Real Estate and Commercial Lending

John Bailey joined Farmers Bank in 2006 and works as vice president of real estate and commercial lending. Before joining the bank, John had a distinguished 22-year career in the military. He was a commander in the 588th Engineering Battalion, the director of public works in the 235th Base Support Battalion and deputy commander for civil works in the Mobile District of the Army Corps of Engineers. He was graduated from Greenwood High School and the University of Arkansas. He is president of the Greenwood Kiwanis Club, a life-long member of the VFW and a member on the Greenwood Water and Sewer Advisory Committee and the Greenwood Veterans' Park Advisory Committee. His interests include investing and gardening.

Bob Beams

VP, Commercial Loan Officer

Bob Beams is a vice president and commercial loan officer. He is a member of the Fort Smith Board of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors. Bob was graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor's degree in accounting, with a minor in finance. He enjoys hunting, fishing, mechanics and golf.

Jeff Wilkinson

VP, Information Technology

Jeff Wilkinson begins the fourth generation of Wilkinsons involved with Farmers Bank. Jeff serves the bank as vice president of Information Technology. A graduate of Greenwood High School, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. Jeff is a member of the Greenwood Rotary Club and a volunteer with the Greenwood Fire Department. In his personal time, he enjoys a good game of golf and spending time with his family.

Diane Wade

Assistant VP

Diane Wade is an assistant vice president with responsibilities that include customer service, new accounts, certificates of deposit, IRAs, trust administration and collections. She has served as vice president of the Mountainview International Ministries, as well as other faith-based and community organizations. She was graduated with honors from Greenwood High School and enjoys gardening, biking, walking, sewing and crafts.

Lisa Angel

Assistant VP

Lisa Angel is an assistant vice president. She came to Farmers Bank with 12 years of experience in the industry. We was graduated from Waldron High School and works as a volunteer for community activities sponsored by the bank and elsewhere. She enjoys yard work, hiking, four-wheeling, walking, shopping and her family, especially her grandchildren.

Tracy Payton

Assistant VP

Tracy Payton is an assistant vice president and branch manager at Rogers Avenue office in Fort Smith. She is responsible for customer service, new accounts, investments and loan processing. She was graduated from Carl Albert State College with an associate's degree in art, and from Oklahoma's Northeastern State University with a bachelor's degree in education. She enjoys spending quality time with family and friends.

Warren Stewart

Assistant VP

Warren Stewart is an assistant vice president in the lending department. He is responsible for consumer loans, mortgages and collections. He works closely with small businesses, most notably automobile dealerships, to help them manage inventories and other assets. Warren is a member of the Greenwood Lions Club and served for 19 years as the minister of music at Faith Baptist Church in Jenny Lind. He was graduated from Northside High School in Fort Smith. He has extensive experience in the automobile and banking industries. He enjoys family, church and golf.

Tammie Sutherland

Assistant VP, Internal Auditor

Tammie Sutherland is an assistant vice president and internal auditor. She also works as an assistant BSA officer and on the bank's technology committee. She is a member of the Rotary Club and participates in many bank-sponsored community events. She was graduated from Lavaca High School and attended Westark Community College. Tammie enjoys family, church and interior decorating.

Joan Van Vactor

Assistant VP

Joan Van Vactor is an assistant vice president of lending, working mostly with consumer and real estate loans. She is a member of the Rotary Club, the Greenwood Garden Club, Friends of the Library and the United Methodist Church. Joan earned a bachelor's of science degree from the University of Arkansas. She enjoys singing in the church choir and the Fort Smith Chorale.

Sarah Walker

Assistant VP

Sarah Walker is an assistant vice president with responsibilities than include customer relationship management, new accounts, investments, debit card management and public relations. She earned a bachelor's degree in sociology, with a minor in music, from Ouachita Baptist University. She is a member of the First Baptist Church in Booneville. She enjoys playing the guitar, scrap-booking and shopping.

Barbara Carter

Branch Manager

Barbara Carter, who has 18+ years of experience in the banking industry, is branch manager of the Lavaca office, loan officer and assistant cashier. She was graduated from Eunice (NM) High School and studied business in college. Barbara is treasurer of the River Valley Rotary Club and a care group leader at the First Baptist Church in Lavaca. She enjoys gardening, fishing, hunting and her grandchildren.

Leslie Ragan

Branch Manager

Leslie Ragan is branch manager at the Barling office, as well as an assistant cashier. After graduating from high school, she studied tax-oriented finance at H&R Block. She enjoys her family, gardening, sewing and crafts.

Julie Clark

Head Teller

Julie Clark is head teller for Farmers Bank and manages the tellers, vault and operational supplies. She is a member of the Grace Lutheran Church, where she serves on the church council. Julie was graduated from Mansfield High School and attended the University of Arkansas, where she was a member of the university's Athletic Training Team. She enjoys reading, Taekwondo and her son, Ethan.

Kay Oliver

Financial Advisor

Kay Oliver has served as the financial advisor at Farmers Bank since 2002. She currently is responsible for all outside investment products, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, annuities, life insurance and long-term care insurance. Kay is an active member of the Lions Club and Rotary Club, and is a board member for both the local Salvation Army and United Way. Kay is very involved with the Greenwood United Methodist Church and currently serves as chairperson of the Administrative Board. She received her education at Arkansas Tech University and the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. She is an NASD Series 7, 24, and 63 certified financial manager, and a Series 66 licensed investment advisor. She enjoys family, her Bichon Friesa puppy (Lucy), gardening and reading.

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