BATESVILLE — Citizens Bank, headquartered in Batesville, has expanded its statewide lending department leadership team, including Arkadelphia.
Batesville’s Landon Downing will now serve as assistant vice president commercial loan officer, Nathan Harris has been promoted to city president of the Fayetteville market and Michelle “Shelley” Loe has been hired as a commercial loan officer in Arkadelphia.
“The addition of these roles will not only increase lending support at Citizens Bank for its customer base across the state, but it also reflects its commitment to developing the next generation of progressive bankers. Downing, Harris and Loe are each leaders in community investment in their own ways and align with the bank’s People First mission,” a news release said.
“I am honored to have Shelley join our Arkadelphia lending team,” Lori Ross, Arkadelphia president, said in the release. “She brings with her years of experience in banking and small business relations. She is a valued asset to Citizens Bank and our customers, as well as an outstanding fit for this position and our team.”
Loe, previously with the Arkadelphia Alliance and Area Chamber of Commerce, will be responsible for commercial lending within the south-central Arkansas market.
“Her past experience in economic development makes her an excellent champion for the community as a relationship builder and problem solver. Loe brings more than 12 years of banking experience with her, having formed relationships with businesses and entrepreneurs in varying industries,” the release said.
“Being at Citizens Bank allows me the opportunity to continue community development work in a different way,” Loe said in the release. “Assisting new and existing businesses as they grow and helping individuals achieve their dreams makes this position so rewarding. Citizens Bank truly lives out its People First mission. When a customer succeeds, we all succeed.”
Loe is a Henderson State University graduate and has extensive training in commercial, agricultural and residential lending. She attended Missouri State University Agricultural Lending School and is active in the professional community as an advisory board member of Baptist Health Medical Center, South Central Arkansas Electric Cooperative Board and the Veolia Community Advisory Board.
Loe was recently appointed to the Arkansas Electric Cooperative Board of Directors and the Arkansas Board of Developmental Disabilities Services. She is involved in community development as part of the Henderson State University School of Business Advisory Board and Downtown Arkadelphia. Loe and her husband, Phillip, reside near Arkadelphia and have two children.
Downing joined Citizens Bank in 2017, and gained experience in the retail sector and treasury management before stepping into this role in commercial lending.
Harris, previously serving as SVP commercial lender at Citizens Bank, will be responsible for leading the Fayetteville team, building new relationships, driving growth in the market, and ensuring that customers’ needs are met with exceptional People First service.
Harris has more than 16 years of banking experience and is deeply involved in the Fayetteville community, serving with organizations such as Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Northwest Arkansas and Children’s Safety Center of Washington County. He is a graduate of Leadership Fayetteville Class XXVII, as well as Leadership Arkansas XV, and volunteers on the Fayetteville Country Club finance committee.