Our Business Lenders

For almost three decades, Scott Walker has been serving customers in our Union County market from our Main Street location.  As our local market president and head of Commercial Lending, Scott oversees the lending team and also represents FFB well in our community – serving as Treasurer of the Union County Community Foundation Board and a member of the FFB/SHARE Foundation’s Golf Tournament Committee for fifteen years, helping raise funds for our local Interfaith Clinic.

Scott enjoys working for a bank that invests in our local communities and businesses, allowing us to demonstrate our true community bank presence and help local businesses by providing not only sound financial advice, but loans for whatever they need to grow their business.  A true “people person”, Scott knows that “one size does not fit all” when it comes to financing the needs of small business owners and enjoys getting to know each customer and their unique business.

“Seeing a business succeed and knowing that we had a part in making that a success story is very rewarding”, stated Walker.  When the pandemic began, Scott played a key role in helping his customers secure funding during very trying times.  “I’m proud of our lending team and the way we pulled together to work around the clock and get our customers the funds they needed to stay in business”, he said.

When asked what three words would best describe him, Scott stated “humorous, caring, and dependable.”  The lending team at FFB is a close-knit group and they support each other professionally and personally.  And having a sense of humor is always welcome!  When not at work, you can probably find Scott on the golf course at either El Dorado Country Club or Mystic Creek.

Alan Meadows has worked in Union County for 17 years and understands both the process of lending and the people he serves.  His experience as an insurance agency partner and Risk Manager at Murphy USA enables him to accurately evaluate the risks and rewards of prospective borrower relationships.

In his current role, Alan works daily with existing and prospective borrowers to meet their financing needs, ranging from start-up opportunities to larger loan requests from seasoned business owners who may need additional capital or a new piece of equipment.  He loves working at FFB, where all loan decisions are made at the local level and the bank invests in our community to help it thrive, flourish, and grow.

When the pandemic hit, Alan was able to help many businesses get funding through the government’s PPP program – both existing customers as well as new customers who couldn’t get the funding through their current bank.  “The appreciation we felt during the PPP process was rewarding and heartwarming”, he stated.  “Many customers said we went “above and beyond” during the process and they couldn’t say that about other banks in our area.  We were very honored and proud to be able to help hundreds of businesses keep their doors open”.

Alan and his wife Cynthia have been married for 19 years and are the parents of one daughter and one son.  Their kids are involved in sports and they support their traveling teams throughout the region.  Active in the local community, Alan has volunteered for the local Boys/Girls clubs for years and will be their new board president in 2022.  He also serves as a commissioner on both the El Dorado Advertising and Promotion Commission and the Ouachita River Commission and as Treasurer for Camp Kurios, a Christian summer camp.   When asked what three words best describe him, Alan said “integrity, involved, and caring”.

With almost 25 years in the banking industry, Greg Goss leads our Mena, AR team as they serve those in Polk County and surrounding areas.  It’s a natural fit for someone who grew up in Mena and understands both the people and the financial services they need.  He graduated from Arkansas Tech with a degree in Agri Business and later attended the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University.

Prior to joining FFB, Greg had worked with other banks in the area and made many valuable friendships and connections that still serve him well today. “The attraction to FFB was the people.  I was impressed with their leadership and vision and devotion to the communities where they do business”, he stated. 

“My role is to advocate for the bank with individuals and businesses in our community by serving the needs of our customers and resolving any issues that arise”, he said.  “My biggest pleasure in working with clients is helping them achieve their goals”.

“A young man I’d known since he was a toddler came to me, wanting to purchase land on which to build a future home.  He came in, we talked, and I told him what he needed to do to make that happen.  About a year later, he came back and had everything ready.  The day of closing his parents came in with him, and were very proud of him, as we all were.  After the loan closing, we took pictures to commemorate the event and later, his mom shared on social media how helpful we were in making his dream a reality”.

An avid outdoorsman, Greg has always loved, bought, sold, and trained horses.  His family enjoys horses “in a competitive way”, he says, with a daughter and wife who both participate in barrel races.  They spend their family vacation at deer camp each year, and they all enjoy the hunting but also the fellowship and conversation with family and friends.  “Our activities seem to always involve family, whether we are swimming, going to the beach, or just spending the day together watching movies on a cold, winter day.”, he stated.   When asked what three words people would use to describe him, Greg listed “honest, loyal, and caring”……….but jokingly added, “it depends on which people you ask!”.

With his past experience as a bank examiner, David has an excellent understanding of the banking industry and the lending process.  Add to that his experience in credit analysis, loan review, and commercial lending and it’s easy to see why customers can trust and rely on his guidance when making a loan.   He enjoys working with existing customers, but also loves working with new customers to help them reach financial goals for their businesses.  One of David’s favorite things about working at FFB is the family-type atmosphere.   He recently commented that “We are a work family.  We work hard and have fun doing it”. 

He enjoys building relationships with his customers and watching their success.  Especially fulfilling was his work to secure PPP funding for customers when the pandemic began.  “Being there for my customers during a time of uncertainty and fear – and being able to help them get the necessary funding to keep their doors open and flourish – it was very rewarding”, stated Coleman.

The three words David says would be used to describe him?  Reliable, trustworthy, and funny.  When not at work, he and his wife of nine years, Kami, have a six year old son that keeps them busy.  They enjoy doing most anything outdoors and love sports. 

Chris has spent his entire professional life in Little Rock, AR.  Following college, Chris joined his family and two older brothers operating a retail golf store and opening/operating a full service restaurant and bar.  After four years of learning how to work with different types of personalities, and service the needs of many different, individual customers, Chris took a job with a local banker, and learned the connection between a community bank/banker and the local businesses they serve.  Through many learning curves over the past 20 years, Chris hopes that he has found the perfect balance, and the perfect bank family to keep that balance front and center. 

Having grown up in Little Rock, Chris leverages his personal and professional relationships in order to provide a unique customer experience.  Some of the best success stories have come from helping friends realize their dreams of owning their own businesses: from restaurants, to nation-wide service industries, and all points in between - helping friends better themselves and their families is Chris’ favorite aspect of banking. 

Outside of work, Chris is married and has (2) energetic boys.  Finding time to volunteer in his local community is also very important, and he is able to serve his community through nonprofits making a difference in Little Rock:  As a board member for Home for Healing Little Rock and Ballet Arkansas.  He also helped found the Monsignor Tribou Scholarship Foundation, which benefits needs-based, graduating seniors from his alma mater, Little Rock Catholic High School.  If you don’t find him at a local sporting event, dance recital, or at a nonprofit event, you will most likely find Chris on the golf course, spending time with his family and friends.  Three words that are probably most spoken about CJ: caring, relentless, and inclusive.

In her role as a VP of Commercial Lending, Andrea Taegtmeyer enjoys getting to know people from all walks of life.  “I have so many different customers and they are all unique in their own way.   I enjoy getting to know them and learning more about their lives”, she stated.  “One of my frequent customers told me that I was one of the most important people in their life.  That lets me know that I am taking care of my customers”. 

Andrea and the team at First Financial Bank work hard to meet the needs of their customers and she credits a good team environment for helping things go smoothly.  “Everyone is hard-working and has an important role in the process”, she said.  Many of her customers are involved in agriculture, an industry she has considerable knowledge of, having worked for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in a lending role for fifteen years. 

When she’s not helping customers, Andrea can be found helping in her community.  She’s a member of the local Rotary Club and volunteers frequently with them.  Individually, she does a “Bus Stop” snack program on Friday afternoons, handing out snacks to kids in a low-income neighborhood as they get off the bus.  She enjoys spending time with her family, deer hunting, fishing, and watching her kids play sports.   When asked what three words people would use to describe her, Andrea said “dedicated, efficient, and knowledgeable”.

Tim St. Clair has over twenty years of experience in banking and agricultural lending and all of it has been in the Woodruff County, AR area.  He also grew up on a farm in Northeast Arkansas.  His customers know that he understands the local business community and the people who work there better than just about anyone.   As Retail Market President in McCrory, Arkansas, Tim oversees day-to-day operations at that location, and is also a lender who specializes in commercial and agricultural loans.

“I make sure that our customers’ needs and expectations are being met, regardless of their relationship with FFB.  From a lending perspective, I make sure my customers have the financial resources and guidance they need to be successful,” he stated.  What Tim enjoys most about his work is helping people work through issues, especially when things don’t go as planned. 

Tim has enjoyed working with a team that truly cares about their customers and he’s glad to continue this customer-focused approach with First Financial Bank.  “I’ve been really impressed with the people, and how hard they work together to get the job done”, he said. 

When asked what three words people would use to describe him, he said “honest, dependable and considerate”.   Outside of work, Tim likes to spend as much time as possible with his family, especially his grandchildren.  He enjoys reading and also teaches a Sunday School class at Valley Baptist Church in Searcy, AR.

A lifelong resident of northeast Arkansas, Sarah Wood specializes in consumer and mortgage lending but is also well-versed in commercial and agricultural lending in her community.  She is passionate about customer service and helping provide clients with products and services to best serve their families.

Her role at FFB involves working with customers to find the best product for their needs and helping them from start to finish with their loan process - taking necessary steps to make it as smooth as possible.  “Being able to help someone buy a new home or business or just help them out in times of need is really satisfying,” Wood said.  She was part of a team that worked around the clock to help businesses in her community during the PPP loan process.  “I had one business owner I visited with on a Friday night at dinner, and they came to see me shortly after that to start the process.  They were able to get funding via the PPP program, keep their doors open, and provide jobs for their employees during the pandemic.  It felt great knowing I had a small part in helping them and helping our community”.

Sarah and her husband, Jim, have three kids who keep them very busy and on the go.  When not working, you’ll most likely find her at the softball fields, playing and coaching basketball or the pool.  She enjoys traveling, hosting gatherings, and is an avid sports fan.  (Roll Tide!)  When asked what three words people would describe her, Sarah said, “honest, dependable, and funny”.

For almost a decade, the folks in Harrisburg have come to rely on Zac Price for their lending needs.  In his role as VP of Commercial Lending, Zac has helped businesses of all sizes reach their goals with financial resources that work for them – not a ‘one size fits all’ approach.  He’s always wanted to work in his hometown and help people he’s known all his life, and says his job at FFB provides just that.

One of the things he loves about being a lender is when people call him with a new idea for their business, what he calls a “What if…” call.  The opportunity to discuss business opportunities and new projects and learn more about the business – that’s very rewarding to him.  He enjoys exploring the options and putting together a great loan package to help customers improve or expand their business.

He also enjoys being involved in his community in other ways – as a member of the Rotary Club of Harrisburg and at First Baptist Church.  Zac and his wife, Megan, have two children, and he enjoys traveling, watching sports, and playing golf.  He’s also a member of the Emerging Leaders Council for the Arkansas Bankers Association.

Sayle Roberts joined First Financial Bank in Senatobia, MS, as VP of Commercial Lending. His experience as a consumer lender and commercial portfolio management prepared him by learning the ins and outs of the underwriting process. “My role at FFB is a great opportunity that has allowed me to take the next step in my career. I enjoy building relationships with customers and helping them get into the best product to fit their financial needs.”, stated Roberts.

Roberts received his Bachelor’s degree in both Banking & Finance as well as Managerial Finance focus from the University of Mississippi.

“I’m excited to have Sayle join our team. He will be charged with maintaining current relationships and growing the commercial loan and deposit portfolios for the NW MS markets.”, stated Brad Ogletree, Regional Market President.  

You can catch Sayle and his wife in Oxford outside of work at Ole Miss sporting events. He’s a huge Ole Miss sports fan! 

A native of Harrisburg, Pierce graduated from the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith with a degree in Operations Management. He has experience as a field appraiser for the Poinsett County Assessor’s office, utilities director for Harrisburg Water & Gas, and most recently worked as a Senior Appraisal Specialist. Nathan will report to Zachary Price in Harrisburg. “Nathan’s experience in real estate, along with many relationships in Northeast Arkansas make him a valuable addition to our bank family. We are excited to have Nathan on our team”, stated Price.

In his role as AVP/Loan Officer, Nathan will help customers meet their financial goals by providing loan solutions that are tailored to their needs. He also shares his leadership and expertise outside the workplace, serving as President of the Harrisburg Rotary Club, Vice-Chair of the Poinsett County Housing Authority, and a member of the Harrisburg Planning and Zoning Committee.

When not at work, Nathan enjoys traveling and camping in pursuit of his goal to visit all 52 Arkansas State Parks. Call or stop by today and talk with him about your financial needs.

Through his 20 years in education, John learned to connect with people. In education, parents just want the best for their children, and the same resonates with the banking industry. He’ll work to help provide clients with products and services to best serve them and their family. He chose First Financial Bank because he wanted to be a part of a company who wants to make an impact in the community. John enjoys getting time away with his wife. You’ll catch him cheering on the Crimson Tide of Alabama when he’s not at the ballfield with his three sons or watching his daughter dance.