MAGNOLIA — Farmers Bank & Trust is proud to introduce Chad Rawls as Chief Banking Officer (CBO).
With 26 years of business, banking, and executive experience, Rawls will help lead the overall bank strategy and work with management and market teams to drive continued growth and deepen customer relationships across the Farmers Bank & Trust footprint.
A native of Rison, Ark., Rawls began his career in 2000 as President of Rawls Brothers Farms, LLC, and Chief Financial Officer of Rawls Concrete Products, Inc. He transitioned into financial services in 2005, joining U.S. Bank as a Commercial Loan Officer before serving as Market President. In 2011, he was named Senior Vice President at Bear State Bank, where he progressed through several executive vice president (EVP) roles, including Regional Credit Officer and Chief Credit Officer. He joined Simmons Bank in 2018 as EVP of Credit Administration and Loan Operations, and over the next eight years advanced through a series of EVP leadership roles, including President of Corporate Banking, Chief Metro Banking Officer, Chief Credit Officer, Chief Commercial Banking Officer, and Executive Commercial & Credit Banking Leader.
For Rawls, the new CBO role at Farmers Bank & Trust was a chance to join an institution built around community service, local relationships, and a genuine commitment to its customers.
“For 120 years, Farmers Bank & Trust has been a community-focused, family-owned institution aimed at helping people achieve their financial goals and dreams,” said Rawls. “That’s exactly why I wanted to be part of this team, and I’m looking forward to helping our markets grow across Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma. Above all, though, I want to be able to help our incredible customers and staff any way I can with the service and support they deserve.”
“Chad’s track record speaks for itself,” said Chris Gosnell, President and CEO of Farmers Bank & Trust. “He’s led banking teams of all sizes with extraordinary integrity and vision and embodies our core values of HEART. Chad understands that local banking occurs on a personal level, one relationship at a time, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to have him on our executive team going forward.”
Rawls is a graduate of University of Central Arkansas and an alum of Leadership Greater Little Rock. He was named to the Arkansas Business 40 Under 40 list in 2013.