Bear State

Brock Martin and Ben Lester, through their 901 University LLC, bought the 3,964-SF building from Arvest Bank, which acquired the assets of Bear State Financial in 2018; Bear State acquired First Federal in 2011.

Windes, who has 25 years of experience in commercial lending and lending management, has most recently served as a regional president for Bear State Bank in Springfield, Missouri, prior to its merger with Arvest Bank.

Arvest Bank has closed the purchase of Bear State Bank for $391 million.

Shareholders of Bear State previously approved the merger at a meeting held on November 15, 2017.

Bear State and Arvest anticipate closing the merger on or about April 20, 2018, subject to customary closing conditions.

Bear State Financial and Arvest Bank announced they have received all required regulatory approvals for the previously-announced merger between the parties.

The name Diamond Bear comes from the two earliest slogans for Arkansas; "Bear State" and "Diamond State.

Experience: Machen joined Arvest after its acquisition of Bear State Financial, the parent company of Bear State Bank.

Windes, who has 25 years of experience in commercial lending and lending management, has most recently been a regional president for Bear State Bank in Springfield, Missouri, prior to its merger with Arvest Bank.

4 April 2018 - Arkansas, US-based financial services company Arvest Bank and Bear State Financial, Inc.

M2 EQUITYBITES-April 4, 2018-Regulators Clear Arvest Bank to Acquire Bear State Financial in USD 391m Deal

Kouplen said Regent is building from the ground in Springfield, but the executive-level staff members all come from Bear State Bank: Craig Dunn, market president; Mike McGoldrick and Nick Burlison, senior vice presidents of commercial lending; and Kim Cash, vice president and director of cash management.