New Leaders, Familiar Faces: Gauthier, Jackson, Krisell Step Into Community President Roles

Farmers & Merchants Bank and The Bank of Fayetteville are proud to announce three leadership promotions that strengthen the bank’s presence in northwest Arkansas and Stuttgart.

Miranda Gauthier, Jon Aaron Jackson and Jayson Krisell will serve as Community President in the bank’s Springdale, Stuttgart and Fayetteville markets, respectively, where local leadership and trusted relationships make all the difference.

Miranda Gauthier, Springdale

With 20 years of banking experience, Miranda Gauthier brings a deep understanding of lending and leadership to her new role as Springdale Community President. Her career has spanned nearly every area of lending, including loan operations, commercial and consumer lending, and market leadership.

Miranda most recently served as Senior Commercial Loan Officer at the Farmers and Merchants Bank loan production office in Springdale after joining the organization in March 2025. Before that, she held leadership and lending roles at United Bank, Centennial Bank and Today’s Bank, where she also served as Market President.

Born and raised in Fayetteville, Springdale has been her home for more than two decades. Miranda is an Ambassador for the Springdale Chamber of Commerce, a CASA volunteer supporting children in foster care, and a graduate of Leadership Springdale Class XXVI. She and her husband also own Impact CFA, a youth sports organization serving teams across multiple states.

“Springdale is home for my family and for so many of the customers I have had the privilege to serve throughout my career,” Gauthier said. “I am excited to lead this market, support local businesses and families, and build on Farmers and Merchants Bank’s strong community banking tradition in a way that feels authentic and personal.”

Jon Aaron Jackson, Stuttgart

Few people know Stuttgart — and community banking — like Jon Aaron Jackson.

With 30 years of banking experience, Jon Aaron steps into the role of Community President for Stuttgart after most recently serving as Vice President of Lending for Farmers and Merchants Bank’s Southeast Arkansas market. In that role, he worked closely with customers across commercial, consumer and agricultural lending, helping businesses and families grow.

A Stuttgart native, Jon Aaron attended the University of Arkansas at Monticello and began his banking career with First Community Bank in Little Rock. His career later took him to Clarksville, where he managed a mortgage company for First Security Bank, before ultimately bringing him back home. He spent 20 years with BancorpSouth as a Loan Officer and Vice President before joining Farmers and Merchants Bank in 2021.

Today he serves on the Stuttgart Industrial Development Corporation (SIDC) Board, is an active Stuttgart Rotary Club member and belongs to St. Alban’s Episcopal Church. He lives in Stuttgart with his daughter, Ella Gray, and enjoys golf, hunting and summers on Lake Hamilton. He is also continuing his professional development as a second-year student at the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking Commercial Lending School at SMU.

“Taking on this role is a privilege,” he said. “I look forward to building on the trust we’ve established here and ensuring that Farmers and Merchants Bank continues to lead with integrity and a community-first mindset.”

Jayson Krisell, Fayetteville

In Fayetteville, Jayson Krisell steps into the Community President role after serving as Private Banking Loan Officer at The Bank of Fayetteville’s main branch on the Historic Downtown Square.

Jayson brings a relationship-driven approach shaped by more than a decade of experience as a business owner and financial professional. Before joining the bank, he owned and operated Krisell and Jennings Agency, which was voted Best Insurance Agency six consecutive years from 2018-2023 before being sold in 2023.

A recognized civic leader, Jayson was named among the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal’s 2025 40 Under 40 honorees and is a graduate of Leadership Fayetteville Class 39. He has served on the board of Hope Cancer Resources since 2019 and helped establish its annual Toss for Hope Cornhole Tournament in memory of his father, Greg Krisell. He and his wife, Casey, have two children, Cope and Collyn, and are active members of Cross Church in Fayetteville.

“I am incredibly excited and honored to step into this role and serve the Fayetteville community in a broader leadership capacity,” Krisell said. “This market is built on strong relationships, and I look forward to working closely with our customers to help them grow, protect and achieve their financial goals while continuing The Bank of Fayetteville’s long-standing commitment to this community.”