LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (September 4, 2024) – The Academies of Central Arkansas announced today the establishment of the FAB&T Academy of Service, Sales and Marketing at Jacksonville High School. This partnership between First Arkansas Bank & Trust (FAB&T), Jacksonville High School and the Jacksonville North Pulaski School District is core to the foundation and successful implementation of the Academies model of teaching and learning in public high schools throughout Pulaski County, better known as the Academies of Central Arkansas.

Scholars in the FAB&T Academy of Service, Sales and Marketing will benefit greatly from this partnership, by having access to extended learning opportunities during their high school careers at Jacksonville High School. Working with leaders from FAB&T, scholars in freshman seminar will have several opportunities to immerse themselves in true career exploration. Scholars will hear from industry experts and participate in the annual career exposure event, where FAB&T, along with several other central Arkansas employers, will be participating in the hands-on event for all ninth graders.

Beginning this school year, scholars in the FAB&T Academy of Service, Sales, and Marketing will engage in several real-world experiences because of this partnership. Scholars will take industry field trips, participate in job shadowing, have access to career mentoring, and have access to potential internship opportunities. As scholars near graduation, they will have the opportunity to earn concurrent college credit and industry recognized credentials.  Graduating senior scholars will also work with the faculty at Jacksonville High School and the team from FAB&T to complete a capstone project, showcasing their learning from their academy enrollment.

Larry Wilson, Chairman and CEO of FAB&T had this to say about the partnership, "We are beyond grateful for the opportunity to add our brand to the impressive list of partners currently within the Academies program at Jacksonville High School. We have a deep history with JHS, and we have been committed since our founding with resources both financial and physical. To be able to teach young people about the skills needed to compete in the workplace and be career-ready means so much to us. I hope the scholars gain as much from us as we will from them."

The Academies of Central Arkansas is a joint initiative of the four public school districts across Pulaski County and the regional business community. In 2019, the Jacksonville North Pulaski, Little Rock, North Little Rock, and Pulaski County Special School Districts, together with the five Pulaski County chambers of commerce, and business and civic leaders, began implementing high school academies within all public high schools in the county, serving all students.

“Partnering with First Arkansas Bank & Trust to create the Academy of Service, Sales, and Marketing at Jacksonville High School is a pivotal step in equipping our students with the essential skills they need in today’s competitive landscape," says Little Rock Regional Chamber President & CEO Jay Chesshir. "Service, sales, and marketing are the backbone of any thriving business, and by immersing students in these fields, we’re fostering critical thinking, communication, and leadership skills that will serve them well in any career path they choose. This partnership not only enriches their educational experience but also strengthens our community’s economic future.”

Dr. Jeremy Owoh, Superintendent for Jacksonville North Pulaski School District said, "Our partnership with First Arkansas Bank & Trust marks an exciting opportunity to enrich our career programs at Jacksonville High School. This collaboration will introduce our scholars to critical financial literacy concepts while also providing them with insights into sales and marketing. Together with FAB&T, we are fostering a culture of financial responsibility and service-based learning that will benefit our scholars and our community for years to come."

Full implementation of the Academies of Central Arkansas is currently underway at Jacksonville High School. While full implementation for all other public high schools in Pulaski County is set to be achieved in the 2025-2026 school year, once fully implemented, this educational approach will help transform high schools for all students within the four school districts. The Little Rock Regional Chamber is still actively recruiting business partners for all Academy high schools. Businesses interested in getting more information can reach out to the chamber directly or visit www.academiesofcentralarkansas.org.

About Academies of Central Arkansas

The Academies of Central Arkansas is an initiative of the Little Rock Regional Chamber and utilizes the Academies model of teaching and learning. It is being implemented wall-to-wall within all four public school districts in Pulaski County. The model transforms the public high school experience by blending core academics with career and technical education. Students see relevance and better engage with their math, science, English, and social studies when taught through the lens of an occupation or industry theme that interests them. This model connects students’ learning with real world applications, preparing them not only for college, but for career and life. For more info visit www.academiesofcentralarkansas.org.

About First Arkansas Bank & Trust

FAB&T is a family-owned and managed community bank chartered in Jacksonville, Arkansas with Total Assets of $1 billion and 21 locations in Central and North Central Arkansas. Through their commitment to community partnerships, FAB&T helps build a strong future for the communities they serve. For more information, visit fabandt.bank

About Jacksonville High School

The Jacksonville North Pulaski School District is a district where traditional values meet innovative programs. Established in June 2016, the Jacksonville North Pulaski School District serves more than 4,400 scholars in grades PreK-12. Each teacher, administrator and staff member is behind our mission to ”foster a culture of ownership and accountability through partnerships that create multiple pathways for success.”

Today, America Saves announced First Arkansas Bank and Trust as a recipient of the 2023 Designation of Savings Excellence Award (DOSE), the only national award focused on recognizing financial institutions for their work in helping Americans improve financial stability. The coveted honor highlights banks and credit unions that made an extraordinary effort to promote positive saving behaviors in their community during the annual America Saves Week campaign.

First Arkansas Bank & Trust was one of only 15 recipients to be honored this year out of more than 3,900 organizations who participated in America Saves Week in 2023, which took place February 27 - March 3.  

“America Saves has the distinct honor of working with financial institutions that actually care about their customers and members,” said Kia McCallister-Young, Director of America Saves. “That has always been a stand-out point to me, that the organizations that participate in America Saves Week go the extra mile; there’s no requirement to be a part of this campaign, they’re here because they WANT to be, and they believe in the message of helping their employees, constituents, and community be more financially confident. We’re thrilled to be able to honor these banks and credit unions and highlight their hard work.”

America Saves Week is a time-honored, national event bringing together thousands of organizations across multiple sectors to transform the lives of Americans by encouraging them to save successfully. First Arkansas Bank & Trust alongside other participating financial institutions helped reach nearly nine million people and during the weeklong event, individuals deposited more than $788 million into new or existing savings accounts.

For more than 70 years, First Arkansas Bank & Trust has served the Jacksonville area by investing in the community. 

"In my grandfather’s day, most banks had a top-down, ‘my way or the highway’ approach to business,” says Mark Wilson, president and COO of First Arkansas Bank & Trust (FAB&T). “Our management philosophy has evolved a lot since 1949 and today we have a much more collaborative approach. We emphasize hiring the right people, then empowering them to do their jobs. As a result, we have a great team across the board.”

Kiley Dulaney, University of Arkansas soccer player, partners to promote financial wellness and healthy savings habits on behalf of FAB&T and Plinqit

Jacksonville, AR, Aug. 11, 2022 ­– First Arkansas Bank & Trust (FAB&T) and Plinqit, the only savings platform of its kind that pays users for learning about personal finances, have partnered with University of Arkansas soccer player, Kiley Dulaney to promote positive financial health within the local communities of Central and North Central Arkansas.

A collegiate soccer player with aspirations of becoming a business owner after graduation, Dulaney is a Jacksonville, Arkansas native and a long-time customer of FAB&T. The Jacksonville-based bank, which manages more than $960 million in assets, is proud to showcase Dulaney’s accomplishments and future business goals to inspire other young athletes, especially women, to pursue their dreams, both athletically and professionally. As a student-athlete, Dulaney also recognizes the importance of financial planning and saving, which makes her the ideal spokesperson for this partnership.

By partnering with FAB&T and Plinqit, Dulaney will help promote financial wellness, strong personal finance skills and healthy savings habits throughout the communities across Arkansas.  Far too often, this demographic relies on credit or other means to pay for things, which can lead to financial stress that could be alleviated by setting aside money on a regular basis to pay for both wants and those unexpected life moments.      

“It is an honor to have the opportunity to inspire the next generation of female athletes, aspiring entrepreneurs, and future business leaders to reach their personal, professional and financial goals, no matter how big or small – to dream as big as possible,” said Dulaney. “As a student, I understand the countless financial stressors that so many young people experience, especially considering inflation and the rise in prices for basic necessities. Still, financial challenges should not prevent someone from pursuing their dreams. That’s why I’m proud to partner with First Arkansas Bank & Trust and Plinqit to empower others to take control of their finances and achieve their goals.”

Understanding that saving is the first step on the path to financial wellness, Plinqit provides users with a free, simple and easy-to-use way to save and plan for future financial needs. Unlike any other savings platform on the market, Plinqit allows users to not only interact with content that improves their financial literacy, but they are paid to do so. FAB&T first partnered with Plinqit in 2020 and since launching Plinqit’s platform, the bank’s customers have collectively saved more than $500,000 and many have successfully hit their savings goals while boosting their personal finance skills. By partnering with Plinqit, FAB&T has experienced strong deposit growth while empowering its customers to achieve sustained financial wellness through better savings habits.

“Not only is Kiley Dulaney a phenomenal student-athlete and collegiate soccer player at the highest level, but she also is from Jacksonville and has spent her life in our bank’s footprint,” said Roger Sundermeier, SVP & Chief Brand Officer with First Arkansas Bank & Trust. “Kiley has a deep personal connection to the Jacksonville community, which is why we chose to partner with her. We are proud to have Kiley and the Plinqit team as partners in our efforts to advocate for financial health and promote women’s soccer. This is important work and being able to involve local talent like Kiley makes this initiative even more meaningful. We are proud to showcase the talent that comes from the communities which we serve.”

On the partnership, Kathleen Craig, founder and CEO of Plinqit added, “There are many skills that make a great entrepreneur and the ability to make smart financial decisions is one of them. As an incredibly disciplined student-athlete and an aspiring business owner, Kiley Dulaney is the perfect spokesperson for FAB&T and Plinqit and will help raise awareness of the importance of establishing good financial habits early on. We look forward to working with her as we continue to advocate for greater financial wellness for all.” 

About First Arkansas Bank & Trust

First Arkansas Bank & Trust is a family-owned and operated commercial bank based in Jacksonville, Arkansas with more than $960 million in assets. Founded in 1949, the bank has remained committed to doing right by its customers and has since grown to 21 locations across Arkansas.

About Plinqit

Plinqit is a brandable, mobile-first platform that is elegant and highly powerful at the same time. Unlike any other savings platform on the market, its patented Build Skills™ pays users for engaging with content, creating higher user engagement for financial institutions. Created by Millennials for Millennials, Plinqit helps financial institutions connect with this important demographic in a meaningful, relevant way – bringing together digital customers, FIs, and savings in one beautiful place. For more information, visit info.plinqit.com.

About Plinqit

About First Arkansas Bank & Trust

Mark and his wife Rebel have been married for sixteen years and they have two boys, aged 10 and 12.

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FAB&T is a family-owned and managed commercial bank chartered in Jacksonville, Arkansas with Total Assets of $785 million and 22 locations in Central and North Central Arkansas. FAB&T also offers a full-service mortgage department, trust and wealth management services, 24/7 Customer Call Center, and has a credit card division, located in Kennesaw, Georgia. FAB&T has been recognized as a “Best Places to Work in Arkansas” by Arkansas Business, a Military Bank of the Year by the Department of Defense, and a “Best In-State Bank” by Forbes.