Arkansas

Simmons First National (SFNC) in Pine Bluff, Ark., has agreed to buy Liberty Bancshares in Springfield, Mo.

Bank of the Ozarks (OZRK) in Little Rock, Ark., is encouraging shareholders to support its proposal to more than double its authorized common stock.

Simmons First National (SFNC) in Pine Bluff, Ark., has agreed to buy Community First Bancshares in Union City, Tenn.

Home BancShares in Conway, Ark., has agreed to buy Florida Traditions Bank in Dade City, Fla. The $6.8 billion-asset Home said it will pay $43 million stock for the $312 million-asset Florida Traditions.

Bank of the Ozarks (OZRK) in Little Rock, Ark., said that its first-quarter earnings climbed 26% from the same period last year, to $25.3 million, thanks largely to strong loan growth and an accounting gain stemming from its March acquisition of Texas of Bancshares.

A former Arkansas bank executive has been accused of committing fraud in order to conceal losses on a $1.5 million loan.

Simmons First (SFNC) in Pine Bluff, Ark., has agreed to buy Delta Trust & Banking in Little Rock, Ark.

Analysts Joseph Fenech and Kevin Fitzsimmons have resigned from the research department at Sandler O'Neill.

The Federal Reserve Board has lifted enforcement actions against four financial companies.

The subsidiaries of the $4.4 billion-asset company will be merged into Simmons First National Bank by August 2014, according to a Wednesday filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Bank of the Ozarks (OZRK) on Wednesday finalized the cash acquisition of Bancshares in Houston, as well as its wholly-owned subsidiary Omnibank, for $21.5 million.

Bank of the Ozarks (OZRK) of Little Rock, Ark., has agreed to buy Summit Bancorp in Arkadelphia, Ark.

Bank of the Ozarks (OZRK) in Little Rock, Ark., got an earnings boost ahead of its acquisition of a Houston bank.

Simmons First National (SFNC) in Pine Bluff, Ark., plans to close 27 branches, according to regulatory filings.

J. Thomas May still believes community banks can thrive but executives must find new ways to engage customers, control costs and build scale.

A former executive at One Bank & Trust in Little Rock, Ark., has been charged with stealing nearly $75,000 from his employer to pay off credit card bills.

Southern Missouri Bancorp (SMBC) in Poplar Bluff has agreed to buy Citizens State Bankshares of Bald Knob in Arkansas.

Bank of the Ozarks posted a 16% rise in quarterly profit after completing an acquisition and reporting strong loan growth.

The $3.6 billion-asset Simmons First said Thursday that it plans to pay $53.6 million in cash for the Little Rock, Ark., bank.

Simmons First National (SFNC) in Pine Bluff, Ark., had the winning bid to buy Metropolitan National Bank during a bankruptcy auction.