(Arvest Bank)
Arvest Bank of Fayetteville announced an initiative to better serve its Spanish-speaking customers and communities by establishing a network of dedicated bilingual branches.
The initiative will begin with branches in Springdale, Arkansas, and Lawton, Oklahoma, the bank said in a news release. A third branch under construction Kansas City, Kansas, is also set to join the initiative.
Arvest said the branches will “provide a more inclusive and accessible environment for Spanish-speaking individuals” with additional Spanish-language resources and a team of bilingual employees.
“Our Spanish-speaking community is a vital economic engine for our region,” Julie Shook, sales manager for Arvest’s Springdale region, said in the release. “This initiative is about embracing the rich diversity that makes our community strong. By ensuring equitable access to financial services, we are investing in the future success of our region.”
The $27 billion-asset lender aims to extend the initiative to additional branches in the future.
Arvest currently has more than 500 employees who are certified to offer products and services in Spanish.
In October 2023, the bank opened a resource center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, designed to house multiple departments with bilingual employees and provide free financial education in Spanish and English.
The bank also has an employee-led impact group, HOLArvest, that focuses on creating awareness and deepening relationships with the Hispanic and Latino communities.
Arvest isn’t the only Arkansas lender looking to reach fast-growing Hispanic and Latino communities. White River Bancshares Co. of Fayetteville, the holding company for Signature Bank of Arkansas, launched Banco Sí, the state’s first dedicated bilingual bank, in 2022.
