Matt Mason returns to Financial institution of Fayetteville as NWA market president

Stuttgart-based Farmers and Retailers Financial institution (F&M) introduced the hiring Friday (Feb. 3) of former industrial lender Matt Mason as Northwest Arkansas market president.

He succeeds Jennifer Hardin, who has been promoted to the corporate’s chief operations officer. F&M additionally introduced Tyler Morgan’s promotion to chief threat officer.

Mason will oversee the financial institution’s retail and lending operations at 9 areas in Northwest Arkansas. F&M acquired The Financial institution of Fayetteville (BOF) in November 2015 however BOF maintained its commerce title doing enterprise in eight branches — 5 in Fayetteville and one every in Farmington, Prairie Grove and West Fork. F&M additionally has a full-service department on Walton Boulevard in Bentonville.

“When Jennifer Hardin moved to the position of COO, we instantly started to seek for an govt that understood the tradition and wealthy historical past of The Financial institution of Fayetteville,” mentioned Greg Connell, the corporate’s govt vice chairman and chief income officer. “We discovered that in a former worker, Matt Mason. After serving as market chief for an Oklahoma financial institution for the previous 13 years, he was prepared to come back again dwelling to Fayetteville. We’re lucky to have him as the brand new BOF market president.”

In line with a information launch, Mason has 27 years of banking expertise in Arkansas and Oklahoma. He beforehand labored at BOF because the senior vice chairman for industrial loans earlier than leaving for Claremore, Okla., the place he has labored as the manager vice chairman and market president for RCB Financial institution for the previous 13 years.

His work expertise additionally contains Arkansas’ agricultural trade, with stints as an economist for the College of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service and a grain merchandiser.

“I’m grateful for the chance to return to The Financial institution of Fayetteville and to guide an incredible staff that has been an anchor locally for greater than 100 years,” Mason mentioned in a press release. “Northwest Arkansas is dwelling. It’s an thrilling time in Fayetteville, and I stay up for getting concerned with the neighborhood and reconnecting with pals and prospects all through the area.”

Hardin brings over 25 years of expertise to her new position as COO. Since beginning her profession with The Financial institution of Fayetteville as a part-time teller after highschool, Hardin has labored as a mortgage processor, lender, department supervisor and as vice chairman and retail operations officer. She had been market president for the previous two years.

She is a graduate of Management Fayetteville and a Group Management Council member for the Single Guardian Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas. In 2022, the Northwest Arkansas Enterprise Journal named her certainly one of its Girls in Enterprise honorees.

“Jennifer brings years of expertise to her new position managing the financial institution’s complete operations,” mentioned govt vice chairman and chief working officer Kelly Houghton. “She has demonstrated the flexibility to work inside a big scope and has a deep understanding of our buyer base and tradition. I’m excited to see what she is ready to develop and attain as she leads this staff to sooner effectivity development and stronger operational efficiency.”

Morgan joined F&M in 2018 and, most not too long ago, was the financial institution’s chief safety officer. He involves his new position with eight years of expertise within the monetary trade and 12 years of historical past within the threat and safety fields.

“Tyler is a confirmed chief that brings a breadth of data and expertise to our financial institution’s threat administration program,” Houghton mentioned. “His robust basis in cyber safety, fraud and enterprise threat ensures the safety of our financial institution’s prospects, shareholders and workers in a quickly evolving safety surroundings. It’s an honor to work with Tyler, and I stay up for seeing the place his initiatives and technique will lead our financial institution sooner or later.”

Farmers and Retailers Financial institution has 27 Arkansas areas with roughly $1.7 billion in property.