From its start in 1925 in Cross County, Arkansas, Evolve Bank & Trust has remained a constant through decades of change – rooted in its strong history of community and service, yet still looking ahead to the future. As the banking and financial services industry continues to shift in response to new technologies, changing customer expectations, and strengthening regulatory standards, the Bank has remained committed to its principles of integrity, trust, and service to our clients and communities. In 2025, Evolve Bank & Trust celebrates a significant milestone that few financial institutions reach – 100 years of continuous service. A century in business is an accomplishment in any industry, but in the banking sector, which has seen unprecedented transformations over the past decades, it is a profound testament to adaptability, consistency, and deep community engagement.
Founded June 5, 1925, in Parkin, Arkansas, Evolve Bank started as a community bank designed to meet the needs of a local agricultural economy. It has since grown into a nationally recognized institution with branches across Arkansas and Tennessee, a headquarters in Memphis, and a robust Open Banking fintech division that serves partners across the United States. Evolve Bank’s ability to evolve—true to its name—has been central to its long-term success. Its portfolio now includes everything from personal banking and business lending to trust services, mortgage lending, SBA financing, and one of the nation’s most respected Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) platforms.
What truly sets Evolve Bank & Trust apart is not the rich 100-year history, the full range of services offered, or the sophistication of its technology. Evolve is a people-first organization, and it is this commitment to serve that has allowed Evolve to thrive for 100 years now. That commitment to people-first banking is especially clear in places like the bank’s Wynne, Arkansas location, where two Cross County natives—Cari Beth Mitchell and Ashley Brumley—have recently taken on key leadership roles. Raised in the same communities they now serve, they bring deep local knowledge and a passion for helping neighbors succeed. Or, like at Evolve’s Jonesboro, Arkansas banking center, where newly-promoted Community Bank President Rob Lance is funding initiatives to grow the local economy. Their appointments represent the future of community banking: locally rooted, community-informed, and mission-driven.
As Evolve steps into its next century, it holds on to the same values that defined its first 100 years: resilient, community-driven, and always moving forward. Whether helping a young family buy their first home or powering the next big fintech innovation, Evolve Bank & Trust is proud to stand at the intersection of tradition and transformation.
The First Century: From Local Communities to National Reach
Evolve Bank & Trust began its operations in a time when the banking relationship was still deeply personal. In 1925, the nation was on the cusp of the Great Depression, and the primary role of a community bank in rural America was to provide reliable, relationship-based service to farmers, families, and local businesses. Evolve, then known as First State Bank, offered simple deposit accounts, business accounts, agricultural loans, and a physical presence that anchored it in the town it served. Its earliest customers were neighbors and family members, local business owners, and farmers, and its operations were shaped by accessability and service.
Over the decades, Evolve grew, expanding its services and expanding its footprint, adding banking centers in nearby communities in Eastern Arkansas. As the banking industry matured—through the post-War boom, the savings and loan crisis, the deregulation of the 1980s, the rise of credit in the 1990s, and the digital revolution of the 2000s—Evolve moved with it, investing in systems, compliance, infrastructure, and customer support. Instead of chasing scale at the expense of service, Evolve remained committed to its core values of community, service, and innovation.
By the time the 21st century ushered in a new era of financial technology and innovation, Evolve was positioned to adapt and lead. The bank embraced digitization early, offering online and mobile banking that made it easier for individuals and businesses to interact with their accounts in real-time. These digital advancements were critical to growth—but they were never implemented in isolation. Evolve never lost sight of its physical branches or the human connections built in towns like Parkin, West Memphis, and Jonesboro.
What truly distinguished Evolve during this transition was its recognition of the symbiotic relationship between technology and community. While fintech could expand access and increase efficiency, it could not replace the irreplaceable: the banker who knows your name, understands your business, and is committed to your long-term success. This philosophy led to the development of a hybrid model—one that offers the reach and convenience of a national digital bank with the trust and reliability of a local partner.
Today’s Evolve: A Comprehensive Financial Ecosystem
As of 2025, Evolve Bank & Trust stands as a modern and fully integrated financial institution offering a wide-ranging suite of services designed to meet the complex and evolving needs of individuals, businesses, and financial technology partners. With a rich 100-year history and a deep commitment to innovation, community, and customer service, Evolve has grown into a dynamic, multi-dimensional financial ecosystem that bridges traditional banking with next-generation financial solutions. The bank’s current offerings span across seven core pillars:
- Personal Banking: Evolve Bank continues to enhance its personal banking experience by providing a full array of services including checking and savings accounts, contactless debit cards with tap-to-pay access, mobile banking applications, and a growing network of ATMs. Customers benefit from intuitive digital platforms designed for easy money management, goal tracking, budgeting, and financial planning. Whether managing day-to-day transactions or planning for long-term goals, Evolve’s personal banking services are built around security, convenience, and control.
- Business Banking: Supporting companies of all sizes, Evolve offers tailored business banking services that help entrepreneurs and established organizations manage their financial operations efficiently. Offerings include business checking and savings accounts, merchant processing, cash flow optimization tools, and treasury management solutions. Additionally, Evolve Bank provides access to commercial credit products and expert guidance to help businesses grow, scale, and succeed in a competitive marketplace.
- Mortgage Lending: From first-time homebuyers to experienced investors, Evolve’s mortgage lending division delivers flexible loan solutions with competitive rates and personalized support. Home loans, refinancing options, home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), and property financing packages are administered by seasoned professionals who understand local markets and are committed to making homeownership accessible. The team’s client-first approach emphasizes transparency, education, and trust, making the lending process more approachable and efficient.
- SBA Lending: Evolve’s active participation in the Small Business Administration (SBA) lending program and role as a Sustaining Member of NAGGL (National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders) underscores its commitment to supporting entrepreneurship and small business development. Through SBA 7(a), 504, and Express loan programs, Evolve helps qualified businesses secure the funding they need to start, expand, or stabilize their operations—offering favorable terms, reduced equity requirements, and longer repayment periods compared to conventional loans.
- Agricultural Lending: Understanding the unique demands of rural communities and farming operations, Evolve Bank has developed a specialized suite of agricultural lending products. These include equipment loans, working capital lines of credit, operating loans, and financing for land purchases or farm improvements. Evolve’s experienced ag-lending team partners with producers, growers, and ranchers to craft customized solutions that reflect the seasonality, cycles, and financial challenges of the agricultural economy.
- Trust and Fiduciary Services: Evolve’s trust and wealth management professionals provide strategic guidance in estate planning, asset protection, and fiduciary services. Whether clients are planning for retirement, transferring generational wealth, or establishing long-term philanthropic goals, Evolve’s trust division offers the expertise and personalized service needed to ensure peace of mind. Services include trustee appointments, investment management, irrevocable and revocable trusts, charitable giving strategies, and more.
The Human Element: Why Leadership Still Matters
Despite the sophistication of its services and the scale of its operations, Evolve continues to invest heavily in the people who make the bank run. In local banking centers across Arkansas and Tennessee, Evolve Bank & Trust empowers its managers, lenders, and customer service representatives to act as trusted advisors, not just transactional agents. This philosophy is reflected in the bank’s hiring and promotion practices, which prioritize community knowledge, emotional intelligence, and a strong service mindset. The recent appointments of Cari Beth Mitchell as Community Bank President and Ashley Brumley as Branch Manager of the Wynne Banking Center and Rob Lance as Community Bank President of the Jonesboro Banking Center provide a clear example of this model in action.
Building the Next 100 Years: Technology, Trust, and Transformation
As Evolve Bank steps into its second century, its strategy is rooted in several core objectives:
- Technological Investment: Continued advancement of digital platforms, cybersecurity protocols, and user experience design to serve a multi-generational customer base.
- Workforce Development: Recruitment, training, and promotion of leaders who reflect the diversity, values, and strengths of the communities Evolve serves.
- Community Reinvestment: Expansion of local philanthropic efforts, small business support initiatives, and economic development partnerships in underserved areas.
- Regulatory Readiness: Ongoing investments in compliance infrastructure, legal frameworks, and third-party audits to ensure ethical and sustainable growth.
- Strategic Partnerships: Further development of fintech collaborations, with a focus on balancing innovation with accountability.
Through these pillars, Evolve is preparing not only for sustained relevance, but for leadership in an increasingly complex financial landscape.
More Than a Milestone
Evolve Bank & Trust’s 100-year anniversary is not just a celebration of endurance; it is a declaration of purpose. From its beginnings in Cross County to its role as a national financial services provider, the institution has never lost sight of what matters most: people. Whether serving families through personalized financial advice or enabling global fintechs to operate securely and ethically, Evolve’s mission remains unchanged—to empower individuals and communities through trust-based banking.
With leaders like Cari Beth Mitchell, Ashley Brumley, and Rob Lance at the helm of its community operations, Evolve Bank is well-positioned to navigate the next century with the same heart, vision, and discipline that defined its first.
