(Wichita, Kan. and Fayetteville, Ark.) Simmons Bank announced the promotions of Pat Gearhart and Charlie Van Ness to division presidents. Gearhart will oversee Wichita, Kansas City and Oklahoma City markets and Van Ness will lead the Northwest Arkansas, Little Rock and Tulsa Markets. Each role will expand our reach by providing exceptional customer service and community support to the metro markets.
“Pat’s wealth of experience and compassion for his community and team make him a natural fit to serve as division president,” said Greg Martin, EVP Commercial Banking. “Charlie’s track record for consistency positions him well to lead our markets to pursue high performance and organic growth. Their expertise will support our ability to drive growth and expand customer relationships throughout the region. We look forward to Pat and Charlie’s leadership in this region.”
With more than 32 years in banking, Gearhart joined Simmons Bank in 2017. Over the last 12 months, Gearhart has led the Wichita Market to consistently achieve a top metro market ranking among Simmons six-state footprint.
Gearhart serves as Chairman for the American Heart Association Midwest Region Board of Directors and locally as a board member for Rainbows United, Inc. He serves on the board of advisors for the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce and is chairman emeritus for the Wichita Grand Opera board of directors. Under his leadership, Simmons Bank has received consecutive distinctions as a “Best Place to Work” from the Wichita Business Journal.
With 15 years in banking and finance, Van Ness joined Simmons Bank in 2018 and most recently served as the Northwest Arkansas market president. As market president, Van Ness consistently led the Northwest Arkansas market to be one of the top performing markets in Simmons’ six-state footprint significantly expanding assets.
A member of the Northwest Arkansas Chapter of Credit Counseling Arkansas, Van Ness was also recognized as a “40 Under 40” honoree with Northwest Arkansas Business Journal in 2016.
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About Simmons Bank
Simmons Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of Simmons First National Corporation (NASDAQ: SFNC), a Mid-South based financial holding company. Simmons Bank operates approximately 200 branches in Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. Founded in 1903, Simmons Bank offers comprehensive financial solutions delivered with a client-centric approach. Simmons Bank was named to Forbes list of “America’s Best Banks” in 2022 and in 2021 was named to Forbes list of “World’s Best Banks” for the third consecutive year. Additional information about Simmons Bank can be found on our website at simmonsbank.com, by following @Simmons_Bank on Twitter or by visiting our newsroom.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
ASHLEY LEOPOULOS
Simmons Bank
Public Relations Manager
ashley.leopoulos@simmonsbank.com
501.413.7055 (mobile)