The expansion extends the Centennial Bank footprint into Alabama and increases its current presence in the Florida Panhandle.

For additional information and details regarding the expansion, visit the “Investor Relations” section at HomeBancshares.com.

Penny was able to visit with Mrs. Forbus's Kindergarten class as well as Mrs. Ellis's Fifth grade class.  Centennial donated some First Account saving kits along with pens and pads and taught lessons about banking and the banking system. 

Thanks to all the teachers and kids for such a fun event!

Techs and fire department personnel worked with parents to properly fit the seat into their car, and the child safely into the seat. Many seats did not pass inspection and low cost, certified car seats were available to replace them.  Firefighters destroyed the unsafe seats so they could never be used again.
 

Florida Keys Healthy Start and Centennial Bank want to educate parents on the following points:

• 3 out of 4 car seats are improperly installed
• Most car seats expire 5 to 6 years from manufacture
• All kids under 13 should ride in the rear seat
• Infants should ride in rear facing car seats installed in the back seat
• After outgrowing regular seats, kids should ride in booster seats until they are 80 lbs

For more information see www.keyshealthystart.org.
 

Proceeds from the event benefit the Richard D. Yarger Charlotte POPS Scholarship Fund.

 In keeping with our table theme, a sign was posted for everyone to stop by and visit the Centennial Bank DISCO! The sign was donated by a local customer – Signs-R-Us – and also included their logo for all to see.

Pam Munz photo: Pam Munz from the Punta Gorda Branch dressed “DISCO” for the occasion.

The Centennial Bank table was complete with a mirror ball borrowed from a local dance studio.

Seated at the Centennial Bank table l to r:  Jeri Green, Lyn Foshee, Pam Munz, Willard Munz, Claire Chronister, Steve Chronister and Larry Green. (Missing from the photo is Teri Ashley)

The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra performed under the stars to entertain the attendees.

Take Stock in Children is a non-profit comprehensive program that helps low-income and at-risk students escape the cycle of poverty through education.  Take Stock in Children provide students college scholarships, volunteer mentor, student advocates, case managers and tutoring.

In this picture, front is Trisha Fohr, Kathy Scherer.  Back is Bob Garrison, Bryan Hoover with Take Stock in Children and Rebecca Shea.

The Fort Myers Softball Club recently won a co-ed tournament and donated the event’s proceeds to Logan. But not only that, they donated their purple and gold trophy.

Nine-year old Logan was severely burned in July behind his Punta Gorda home while playing with gasoline and fire. After extensive treatment at Shriner's Hospital in Cincinnati, Logan continues on his quest for a complete recovery.

“Here you go, buddy!” Foshee said as she presented the trophy in the Punta Gorda lobby of Centennial Bank. “This is almost as big as you are!”

The card attached from Angie Baker with the Fort Myers Softball Club echoed the sentiments of the entire Southwest Florida community.    

“We are wishing you a speed recovery! We are all rooting for you!”

Logan Nelson’s eyes widen as Lyn Foshee of the Centennial Bank branch in Punta Gorda presents him with a trophy from the Fort Myers Softball Club.

  Logan Nelson reads words of encouragement from the Fort Myers Softball Club as his grandmother, Elizabeth Nelson, stands nearby.

(l to r): Claire Chronister, Centennial Bank:  Logan Nelson; Elizabeth Nelson, Logan’s grandmother; Lyn Foshee, Centennial Bank.

Because acquisitions are growth and capital management strategies, earnings excluding amortization of intangibles after-tax are useful in evaluating the Company. Diluted earnings per common share excluding intangible amortization for the third quarter of 2011 was $0.50 compared to $0.33 diluted earnings per common share excluding intangible amortization for the same period in 2010. 

“The Company has achieved yet another historically record quarter during the third quarter of 2011,” said John Allison, Chairman. “Even with our repayment of TARP during the third quarter, our strong capital levels are sustained considerably above the regulators’ capital requirements.  With this in mind, we are able to maintain the position of taking advantage of opportunistic FDIC deals as they become available.”

Randy Sims, Chief Executive Officer, added, “Not only did we see our net interest margin improve 40 basis points during the third quarter of 2011 over the third quarter of 2010, but we again reported marked improvements in the non-performing non-covered loans and nonperforming non-covered assets when compared to those during 2010. Our Company is no doubt pleased with the continued success in the third quarter of 2011.”

Read more on Centennial’s financial condition by downloading our complete earnings release here.
 

At Centennial, we think the use of a debit card is one of the most basic services we can provide, and we just don't think it’s right to charge a fee associated with an activity that's become such a basic utility of society.

Besides, what can $5 get you? It can still get you quite a bit, actually:

• Lunch on the extra-value menu.
• About a gallon and a half of gas (add that up over a year and you've got a full tank).
• Four 20 oz. sodas from the machine at work.
• A program at a college football game.
• Admission to a high-school football game.
• A day's worth of change for the parking meter.
• A foot-long sub sandwich.
• Family outing to the dollar movies.
• Three daily newspapers.

Point is, over time $5 here and there will get you some stuff. Now that some national banks have made the news by charging a debit-card fee, we feel even better about our decision to remain focused on our customers' needs and not charge a similar fee.

Check out this coverage from Arkansas Business:

"Centennial Bank of Conway this weekend unveiled a marketing campaign trumpeting continuation of its free, instant-issue debit card program. The ad took a shot at Bank of America without naming names.

It referred to programs at other banks as the 'sorry-but-we'll-have-to-charge-you-five-bucks-a-month-and-you'll-have-to-wait-three-painfully-long-weeks-to-get-it-even-though-you-could-really-use-it-today-debit-card.'"

Here's the link to the full story by veteran banking writer George Waldon.

We believe customers have the right to use a debit card free of charge, and they should receive their card immediately upon opening their account. It's pretty simple, really.

Just like a trip to the dollar movies or a Double Cheeseburger for the extra-value menu…
 

White County Judge Michael Lincoln and Searcy Mayor David Morris both spoke at yesterday's groundbreaking praising the wonderful blessings and talents within the community and explained that these blessings have allowed our community to continue to grow even in this unstable economy.

The new location will be a full service bank and house workers from the current Race Street branch located next to White County Medical Center.

Senior Vice President and Commercial Lender Blake Holzhauer said they hope to continue to provide good service and excellent products at the new location.

The branch is set to open by the end of January but could vary depending on weather conditions.