As chair of the American Bankers Association over the next year, Catherine Owen's experience leading Arkansas's Eagle Bank & Trust Co.—for nearly half a century—will strengthen her bank advocacy just as it has her standing among her employees and community.
Bankers at community institutions often feel their voices go unheard, said Owen, executive chair of the $503 million-asset bank and president, CEO and chair of its holding company. Nevertheless, bankers must stay well informed and be willing to testify at state and federal capitals when occasions arise, said Owens, who has held numerous positions at the ABA.
Some, for example, may see little need to track the legislative progress of the Clarity Act, which aims to provide a regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies and digital assets. Owen calls it a top issue, since smaller banks have commercial customers who may want to explore the technology for payments and other uses, "And I don't want to lose those deposits." (In September, the Senate voted to block the Clarity Act.)
Tracking policy changes last year, Eagle Bank managed assets to stay below $500 million, a threshold triggering onerous regulatory requirements, until a higher threshold became effective at the start of 2026. In the fourth quarter, the bank's assets grew 3.79%, contributing to an annual net interest margin of 3.20%.
Last year community banks faced sweeping regulatory changes and economic and financial uncertainties. Owen, however, has guided the bank through plenty of difficult times. She started heading the bank at a young age and came to realize that serving in leadership roles in the community commanded respect.
"I'm engaged in the community, and I expect my executives to be as well," Owen said.
In the bank, she said, leadership "is only as good as the team that surrounds me."
Hiring the right people is important, but so is coaching them. When a bank officer requested feedback on a major project, Owen asked her questions to spur rethinking an element that unnecessarily impacted other employees. Within a few hours the officer presented simple changes that resolved the issue, Owen said, "And now she's off to the races on the project."
Owen's experience is broad and deep, but she nevertheless listens to people and has a "quiet patience about her," said Lorrie Trogden, president and CEO of the Arkansas Bankers Association, "When she walks into a room, people know it."
Eagle Bank monitors customer behavior. The bank's initial website page warns them in bold letters about potential scams, but over time people will tend to overlook it.
"So we're thinking about changing the color, evolving it so they don't get used to it," Owen said. "We feel we have to do something to keep getting their attention on that page."
Outside of banking, Owens holds numerous leadership positions, including managing partner of a commercial-property management firm and chair of the Arkansas Baptist Health Foundation.
