Safest Banks in Arkansas 2026
Arkansas has 57 FDIC-insured banks with an average Bank Health Score of 78/100 (B). The safest bank is Bank of Bearden with a score of 100/100.
Data from FDIC Q2 2024
57 Arkansas banks are ranked below by the BankHealth composite score. The composite weights Tier 1 capital ratio (35%), inverted non-performing loan ratio (30%), liquidity ratio (25%), and return on assets (10%) into a 0-100 grade.
Top-of-list banks combine strong capital with clean loan books and reasonable profitability. Bottom-of-list banks face pressure on one or more scoring factors — most often elevated NPL ratios or thin profitability margins. Each bank links to its full profile with multi-quarter trend charts, the four composite factor breakdowns, and the underlying FDIC Call Report data.
Arkansas's 57 FDIC-insured banks hold a combined $144.6B in assets. Their average Bank Health Score of 78/100 sits 2.0 points below the national average of 80/100. Across the state, 82% of banks earn an A or B grade for financial health, while 2% fall to a D or F.
The largest bank headquartered in Arkansas is Bank Ozk with $36.8B in assets and a Bank Health Score of 72/100. The strongest by score is Bank of Bearden in Bearden (100/100, Tier 1 capital 19.50%). The weakest is First Service Bank at 47/100, dragged down by an NPL ratio of 1.96%.
All scores below come from the latest FDIC BankFind Call Report (Q2 2024). The Bank Health Score weights Tier 1 capital ratio (35%), nonperforming loan ratio (30%), liquidity ratio (25%), and return on assets (10%) — the four metrics regulators watch most closely when judging whether a bank is well-capitalized. Every bank with FDIC insurance covers up to $250,000 per depositor per ownership category, but the score helps you tell apart banks that are comfortably well-capitalized from those operating closer to the line.
Top 3 Safest Banks in Arkansas
Bank of Bearden
Bearden, AR
Arkansas's top-rated bank, with a Tier 1 capital ratio of 19.50% — well above the federal "well-capitalized" threshold of 8%. Holds $69M in assets.
Connect Bank
Star City, AR
Second-strongest in the state on capital and loan quality. NPL ratio sits at 0.23% with $119M in total assets.
Mcgehee Bank
Mcgehee, AR
Third in the rankings on the Bank Health Score. Liquidity ratio of 28.24% and ROA of 2.40%.
Top 20 of 57 Banks in Arkansas
| # | Bank | City | Grade | Score | Tier 1 Capital | NPL Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bank of Bearden | Bearden | A | 100 | 19.50% | 0.00% |
| 2 | Connect Bank | Star City | A | 99 | 15.93% | 0.23% |
| 3 | Mcgehee Bank | Mcgehee | A | 98 | 17.83% | 0.00% |
| 4 | Petit Jean State Bank | Morrilton | A | 98 | 16.10% | 0.28% |
| 5 | Farmers Bank | Greenwood | A | 97 | 15.65% | 0.34% |
| 6 | Bank of Lake Village | Lake Village | A | 95 | 18.73% | 0.48% |
| 7 | Piggott State Bank | Piggott | A | 95 | 15.37% | 0.16% |
| 8 | Evolve Bank&Trust | West Memphis | A | 94 | 14.79% | 0.46% |
| 9 | Eagle Bank&Trust Co | Little Rock | A | 93 | 15.92% | 0.41% |
| 10 | Malvern National Bank | Malvern | A | 92 | 14.07% | 0.12% |
| 11 | Southern Bcorp Bank | Arkadelphia | A | 91 | 18.41% | 0.75% |
| 12 | Logan County Bank | Scranton | A | 90 | 30.04% | 0.71% |
| 13 | Centennial Bank | Conway | A | 88 | 13.71% | 0.58% |
| 14 | Bank of Cave City | Cave City | A | 87 | 18.72% | 0.79% |
| 15 | Merchants&Planters Bank | Clarendon | A | 86 | 12.08% | 0.06% |
| 16 | First Naturalstate Bank | Mcgehee | A | 85 | 23.79% | 0.60% |
| 17 | Warren Bank&Trust Co | Warren | A | 83 | 14.47% | 1.61% |
| 18 | Bank of Salem | Salem | A | 82 | 11.70% | 0.13% |
| 19 | First Nb of Eastern Arkansas | Forrest City | A | 82 | 10.76% | 0.58% |
| 20 | First Nb of Izard County | Calico Rock | A | 81 | 31.62% | 3.09% |
Bank Health Scores for Arkansas are calculated from FDIC Call Report data including Tier 1 capital ratios, nonperforming loan ratios, liquidity ratios, and return on assets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our Bank Health Score analysis of FDIC data, Bank of Bearden in Bearden is currently the safest bank in Arkansas with a score of 100/100 (Grade A). It posts a Tier 1 capital ratio of 19.50% and a nonperforming loan ratio of 0.00%.
Arkansas has 57 FDIC-insured banks with a combined $144.6B in total assets. The average Bank Health Score across the state is 78/100 (Grade B).
Arkansas's average Bank Health Score of 78/100 is 2.0 points below the national average of 80/100. 82% of banks in Arkansas earn an A or B grade, compared with the national average grade of A.
Of 57 FDIC-insured banks headquartered in Arkansas, 27 earn an A, 20 a B, 9 a C, 1 a D, and 0 an F. The most common grade is B.
The Bank Health Score (0-100) is based on four FDIC-reported metrics: Tier 1 capital ratio (35% weight), nonperforming loan ratio (30%), liquidity ratio (25%), and return on assets (10%). Higher scores indicate stronger financial health. Every score uses the latest FDIC Call Report data.
Bank Health Scores are computed from quarterly FDIC Call Report data. Tier 1 capital ratio (35%), nonperforming loan ratio (30%), liquidity ratio (25%), and return on assets (10%).