Home BancShares Inc. and its subsidiary, Conway, Arkansas-based Centennial Bank, have announced changes to its management team as the bank celebrates 25 years in business.
Stephen Tipton has been named chief executive officer of Centennial Bank. In addition to the role of chief lending officer, Kevin Hester has been named president of both Home BancShares and Centennial Bank. Hester has served as the bank’s senior lender since it opened a quarter of a century ago. John Allison will remain executive chairman and CEO of Home BancShares, and Tracy French will remain chair of Centennial Bank. Previously serving as president and CEO, she will focus on special projects.
“I view this shift as an opportunity to effectively utilize the depth of our management team in a way that sets us up for the future,” Allison says. “This group spans four decades and embodies more than 130 years of banking experience,” Allison says.
Tipton was appointed chief operating officer of Centennial Bank in 2015. He previously served as regional vice president of Centennial Bank. He began his banking career in 2005 and joined Centennial Bank in 2006. Prior to becoming regional vice president, Tipton served as director of credit risk management and as a commercial lender. He also has a vast array of experience in retail, business development, lending and acquisitions. Tipton earned his BSBA degree from the University of Arkansas.
“Over the past 18 years, I have been blessed to work closely with Tracy French and John Allison as our bank has transformed into one of the premier financial institutions in the United States,” Tipton says. “I am honored to work alongside our leadership team and nearly 2,700 associates as we continue our mission of consistently exceeding the expectations of our customers and shareholders while enriching the communities we serve.”
Hester joined Centennial Bank (formerly First State Bank) in 1998 as executive vice president of lending and became chief lending officer of Centennial Bank in 2010. He has more than 35 years of banking experience. Hester holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Central Arkansas and is an honor graduate of the National Commercial Lending School in Norman, Oklahoma. He is also a board member of Centennial Bank.
“As a founding employee, I am very proud of all that we have accomplished over the past 25 years, and look forward to continuing to build on our reputation as one of the best banks in America,” Hester notes.
Established in 1999, Centennial Bank currently has 76 branches in Arkansas, 78 branches in Florida, 58 branches in Texas, five branches in Alabama and one branch in New York City.
