Farmers & Merchants Bank + The Bank of Fayetteville Name Chris Ward Regional President for Northwest Arkansas

Farmers & Merchants Bank has named Chris Ward Regional President for Farmers & Merchants Bank and The Bank of Fayetteville. As Regional President, Ward provides strategic leadership across the bank’s Northwest Arkansas operations, supporting businesses, professionals and community members throughout the region.

Ward, based at the bank’s Bentonville office at 3210 S. Walton Boulevard, brings nearly 30 years of banking experience to the role. Most recently, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer at First National Bank in Poteau, Oklahoma, a position he held from 2003 until joining Farmers & Merchants in 2026. Earlier in his career, he worked as a Consumer and Mortgage Originator, Consumer Lender, Commercial Lender, and Branch Manager.

“I’m excited to join Farmers & Merchants Bank/The Bank of Fayetteville and serve the people and businesses of Northwest Arkansas,” Ward said. “This is a vibrant and growing region with tremendous opportunity, and I look forward to building strong relationships, supporting local businesses, and helping our communities continue to thrive. I’m honored to be part of an organization with such a strong commitment to community banking and customer service.”

Originally from Poteau, Oklahoma, Ward earned a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management from John Brown University in Siloam Springs, an MBA from Webster University in St. Louis, and a Diploma from the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University. He and his wife, Jill, reside in Rogers.

Ward is deeply involved in the communities he has served, having served as Past Chairman of the Board for the Poteau Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Poteau Kiwanis Club, a member of the City of Poteau Planning Commission, and a Trustee for Carl Albert State College. He has also served on multiple bank boards of directors, including 15 years on the Board of Directors of First National Bank in Poteau.

Farmers & Merchants Bank, headquartered in Stuttgart, is an Arkansas-owned $1.9 billion community bank with 26 locations throughout Arkansas, including eight operating as The Bank of Fayetteville. For more information on Farmers & Merchants Bank, visit GoFM.Bank.