Arkansas has a concentrated group of large commercial real estate banks alongside a broader field of community institutions. The 25 banks in BestCRE’s table hold $63.0 billion in total CRE loans, including $18.7 billion in construction and land loans, $7.2 billion in multifamily loans, $10.5 billion in owner occupied loans and $26.6 billion in investor nonfarm nonresidential loans. Bank OZK leads by total CRE volume, while Simmons Bank, Centennial Bank and Arvest Bank also rank among the largest. The ranking covers banks headquartered in Arkansas and uses FDIC Call Reports as of June 30, 2026.
The broader Arkansas banking market includes 78 banks headquartered in the state with $67.8 billion in total CRE loans. That total changed -0.1% year over year, while the top five banks accounted for 72.4% of state headquartered CRE loans. These figures describe reported portfolio size rather than current loan availability or approval standards. Borrowers can use the table to identify banks with relevant balance sheet experience, then confirm whether the institution is considering the property type, location, loan size and transaction structure involved. Local relationships remain important because bank lending decisions are made institution by institution and transaction by transaction.
Arkansas banks ranked by total CRE loans
| Rank | Bank | Headquarters | Total CRE loans ($M) | Construction and land ($M) | Multifamily ($M) | Owner occupied ($M) | Change, 1 year | CRE share of loans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bank OZK | Little Rock, AR | $18,141 | $6,943 | $2,545 | $852 | -16.1% | 55.7% |
| 2 | Simmons Bank | Pine Bluff, AR | $10,727 | $2,575 | $812 | $2,358 | +5.1% | 59.3% |
| 3 | Centennial Bank | Conway, AR | $9,940 | $2,780 | $1,270 | $1,838 | +12.5% | 58.3% |
| 4 | Arvest Bank | Fayetteville, AR | $7,489 | $2,021 | $754 | $1,484 | +11.1% | 36.6% |
| 5 | First Security Bank | Searcy, AR | $2,765 | $811 | $258 | $298 | +0.0% | 60.1% |
| 6 | ENCORE BANK | Little Rock, AR | $1,514 | $134 | $231 | $421 | -8.9% | 55.7% |
| 7 | Farmers Bank & Trust Company | Magnolia, AR | $1,456 | $234 | $79.8 | $306 | +12.2% | 60.0% |
| 8 | First Community Bank | Batesville, AR | $1,363 | $443 | $168 | $470 | +5.0% | 46.3% |
| 9 | First National Bank | Paragould, AR | $971 | $270 | $130 | $219 | +4.1% | 46.0% |
| 10 | The First National Bank of Fort Smith | Fort Smith, AR | $915 | $251 | $237 | $165 | -6.1% | 58.0% |
| 11 | Southern Bancorp Bank | Arkadelphia, AR | $857 | $321 | $91.8 | $251 | +12.0% | 43.3% |
| 12 | Chambers Bank | Danville, AR | $724 | $248 | $34.5 | $84.3 | +3.3% | 62.4% |
| 13 | Signature Bank of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | $674 | $219 | $85.6 | $151 | +5.8% | 49.7% |
| 14 | Relyance Bank | White Hall, AR | $646 | $77.4 | $39.6 | $105 | -6.7% | 57.1% |
| 15 | The Citizens Bank | Batesville, AR | $605 | $109 | $60.4 | $183 | -1.6% | 47.7% |
| 16 | The Farmers & Merchants Bank | Stuttgart, AR | $586 | $189 | $47.1 | $90.2 | +1.9% | 40.9% |
| 17 | Legacy Bank | Springdale, AR | $482 | $135 | $47.0 | $118 | +29.1% | 44.4% |
| 18 | First Service Bank | Greenbrier, AR | $462 | $209 | $54.7 | $123 | +22.9% | 51.9% |
| 19 | Generations Bank | Rogers, AR | $459 | $165 | $39.4 | $110 | +19.1% | 59.9% |
| 20 | First Financial Bank | El Dorado, AR | $438 | $186 | $8.8 | $151 | +14.1% | 25.3% |
| 21 | Central Bank | Little Rock, AR | $414 | $64.7 | $91.5 | $169 | +8.5% | 50.4% |
| 22 | Stone Bank | Mountain View, AR | $349 | $50.2 | $39.5 | $193 | +12.3% | 46.8% |
| 23 | First Arkansas Bank and Trust | Jacksonville, AR | $339 | $120 | $2.8 | $129 | +4.2% | 42.5% |
| 24 | Anstaff Bank | Green Forest, AR | $329 | $53.4 | $47.4 | $68.1 | +20.1% | 36.0% |
| 25 | Fm Bank And Trust | Blytheville, AR | $310 | $73.9 | $39.2 | $118 | +134.2% | 27.6% |
Source: FDIC Call Reports as of June 30, 2026 (schedule RC-C). Dollar figures in millions. Change, 1 year compares total CRE loans with June 30, 2025. Bank names link to each bank’s FDIC record. Table shows the top 25 of 78 banks headquartered in Arkansas.
Bank OZK is the clear volume leader at $18.1 billion, including $6.9 billion in construction and land loans and $7.8 billion in investor nonfarm nonresidential loans. Simmons Bank follows at $10.7 billion, with $5.0 billion in investor nonfarm nonresidential loans and $2.4 billion in owner occupied loans. Centennial Bank reports $9.9 billion and the largest multifamily portfolio among the leading banks at $1.3 billion. Growth varies considerably. Centennial Bank increased CRE loans +12.5%, Arvest Bank increased them +11.1%, and Bank OZK declined -16.1%. Among smaller institutions, Fm Bank And Trust recorded +134.2%, while Legacy Bank recorded +29.1%. Concentration also differs. Farmers Bank & Trust Company reports investor CRE to equity of 3.98x, high relative to the table, while First Financial Bank reports 1.24x, which is comparatively low.
Out of state banks with branches in Arkansas
| Bank | Headquarters state | Branches in Arkansas | Deposits in Arkansas ($M) | Total CRE loans, all states ($M) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank of America, N.A. | North Carolina | 16 | $6,211 | $79,906 |
| Regions Bank | Alabama | 55 | $4,462 | $16,257 |
| The Huntington National Bank | Ohio | 38 | $2,122 | $37,932 |
| U.S. Bank, N.A. | Ohio | 18 | $1,210 | $50,718 |
| First Horizon Bank | Tennessee | 12 | $1,053 | $22,518 |
| Grand Savings Bank | Oklahoma | 12 | $523 | $425 |
| Southern Bank | Missouri | 8 | $397 | $2,176 |
| JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. | Ohio | 12 | $340 | $179,847 |
| Focus Bank | Missouri | 5 | $339 | $210 |
| Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. | South Dakota | 1 | $331 | $121,623 |
| Equity Bank | Kansas | 5 | $312 | $2,532 |
| Armstrong Bank | Oklahoma | 4 | $256 | $869 |
Source: FDIC Summary of Deposits 2026. Deposits and branches are for Arkansas only; CRE loans are bank wide.
Portfolio size and recent growth help narrow a loan search
A large CRE portfolio can indicate substantial appetite and hold capacity, but it does not establish that a bank will fund a particular request. Borrowers should begin with total CRE loans, then examine whether the portfolio contains meaningful exposure to the relevant property category. Bank OZK reports $18.1 billion in total CRE loans, Simmons Bank reports $10.7 billion, and Centennial Bank reports $9.9 billion. Those balances make them logical institutions to investigate for larger requests, while community banks may be relevant when local market knowledge and an established banking relationship matter.
Recent growth provides another screening signal. A bank adding CRE loans may be actively expanding its reported book, although the figures do not reveal current underwriting decisions. First Service Bank grew +22.9%, Generations Bank grew +19.1%, and First Financial Bank grew +14.1%. By contrast, ENCORE BANK declined -8.9% and The First National Bank of Fort Smith declined -6.1%. Borrowers should treat these changes as context, then contact several institutions to confirm present interest, available capacity and fit for the proposed property and transaction.
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Tell Us About Your DealHow BestCRE Capital WorksLoan mix identifies activity while concentration adds context
The portfolio categories show where each bank has accumulated lending exposure. Bank OZK reports $6.9 billion in construction and land loans, $2.5 billion in multifamily loans and $7.8 billion in investor nonfarm nonresidential loans. Simmons Bank has $2.4 billion in owner occupied loans, compared with $852.2 million at Bank OZK. Farther down the ranking, First Service Bank reports $208.9 million in construction and land loans against $75.1 million in investor nonfarm nonresidential loans, indicating a notably different reported mix.
CRE share of loans and investor CRE to equity provide concentration context. Chambers Bank has a 62.4% CRE share of loans, while First Financial Bank has a 25.3% share. Farmers Bank & Trust Company reports investor CRE to equity of 3.98x, First Service Bank reports 3.90x and ENCORE BANK reports 3.53x. These ratios are high relative to many banks in the table and can signal that an institution will be selective about additional exposure. Lower concentration does not establish greater availability, so borrowers should consider portfolio size, property mix, growth and concentration together.
Arkansas borrowers can compare local banks with other capital sources
This ranking covers banks headquartered in Arkansas, but institutions based elsewhere also operate local branches. Bank of America, N.A., headquartered in North Carolina, has 16 Arkansas branches and $6.2 billion in deposits in the state. Regions Bank, headquartered in Alabama, has 55 branches and $4.5 billion in Arkansas deposits. The Huntington National Bank has 38 branches and $2.1 billion in deposits, while U.S. Bank, N.A. has 18 branches and $1.2 billion. Their CRE loan totals cover all states, so those balances should not be interpreted as Arkansas lending alone.
Bank call reports also exclude nonbank alternatives such as debt funds, life companies, CMBS, agency and SBA lenders. Each source can evaluate a transaction differently, and availability may vary with property type, location and structure. Comparing several sources helps a borrower distinguish a bank with relevant portfolio activity from one that is currently limiting exposure. The table is therefore a starting point for outreach rather than a prediction of approval. Borrowers can compare Arkansas headquartered banks, out of state banks with local branches and nonbank lenders before deciding which institutions merit a complete financing request.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which bank is the largest commercial real estate lender headquartered in Arkansas?
Bank OZK ranks first with $18.1 billion in total commercial real estate loans as of June 30, 2026. Its portfolio includes $6.9 billion in construction and land loans, $2.5 billion in multifamily loans, $852.2 million in owner occupied loans and $7.8 billion in investor nonfarm nonresidential loans. CRE represents 55.7% of its total loans, and its investor CRE to equity ratio is 2.75x. Bank OZK also holds national rank 27 among the 4,167 banks covered by the FDIC data.
Where do the Arkansas bank rankings come from?
BestCRE uses FDIC Call Reports, formally called Reports of Condition and Income, with loan balances drawn from schedule RC-C as of June 30, 2026. Branch and deposit information comes from the FDIC Summary of Deposits 2026. The table ranks institutions by total commercial real estate loans reported at the bank level. It includes 25 Arkansas headquartered banks with a combined $63.0 billion in CRE loans. Because call reports cover the entire bank, a balance may include loans secured by properties outside Arkansas when the institution operates in multiple markets.
What interest rate benchmarks were available when this ranking was published?
As of Oct 26, 2026, the Prime rate was 7.00%, SOFR was 3.89%, the 5 year Treasury was 4.78%, the 10 year Treasury was 4.96% and Fed funds was 3.88%. These are market benchmarks, not quoted loan rates from the ranked banks. A borrower’s actual pricing cannot be determined from FDIC Call Reports and may differ by property, structure, borrower and institution. The ranking should be used to identify possible lenders based on portfolio size and activity, while direct discussions are needed to establish current pricing and availability.
Which Arkansas banks rank highest nationally for CRE lending?
Bank OZK has national rank 27, followed by Simmons Bank at national rank 47, Centennial Bank at national rank 55 and Arvest Bank at national rank 75. First Security Bank is national rank 174, while ENCORE BANK is national rank 288. These positions compare reported total CRE loans across 4,167 banks holding $3.07 trillion in aggregate CRE loans. A national position measures portfolio size, not the likelihood that a bank will approve a specific Arkansas transaction. It is most useful as an indicator of institutional scale and accumulated CRE exposure.
How much did CRE lending change at Arkansas headquartered banks?
The 78 banks headquartered in Arkansas reported $67.8 billion in total CRE loans as of June 30, 2026, a -0.1% change year over year. Results differed substantially by institution. Bank OZK declined -16.1%, while Simmons Bank increased +5.1%, Centennial Bank increased +12.5% and Arvest Bank increased +11.1%. Fm Bank And Trust reported the largest percentage increase in the ranked table at +134.2%. Year over year growth shows the direction of reported balances, but it does not identify new originations, repayments or current willingness to lend.
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BestCRE rankings are editorially independent and built only from public regulatory filings; no bank pays for placement. Call report figures describe loans held on each bank’s balance sheet and do not show loan terms, rates or current appetite. BestCRE is not a lender and does not make loans. Benchmark rates are informational, not quotes. See our Legal Disclaimer and Compensation Disclosure.