FBT Bank names Randle VP, outreach head
FBT Bank announces the addition of LaTasha McNeely Randle to its Jefferson County banking team as vice president and director of community outreach. She joins FBT with 12 years of community outreach experience in Pine Bluff.
Randle, from Pine Bluff and a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, will work from FBT’s downtown center at 716 B S. Main St. in Pine Bluff.
“Connecting with community is my top priority, and I’m grateful to FBT for this opportunity to do so in my beloved hometown while also helping Jefferson County gain a deeper appreciation for and greater access to banking services that meet their needs,” Randle said in a news release.
“This is an exciting time for Pine Bluff. There’s a renewed sense of pride and desire for growth and development, and I’m thrilled to connect my neighbors with the knowledge and tools to help them accomplish their dreams,” Randle said.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Randle will lead the development of initiatives tailored to the needs of Jefferson County, according to the release.
“LaTasha’s passion and experience will significantly enhance our community outreach efforts, introducing a fresh and diverse perspective to our bank,” FBT President Jim Hulse said. “We’re excited to welcome her on board.”
“We believe LaTasha’s deep-rooted connection will be an asset to our customers,” Hulse said. “LaTasha has already shared exciting plans for our community outreach efforts with our internal team, and we are eager to see the positive impact her leadership will have in this role moving forward.”
In 1931, FBT Bank began as a full-service bank known as Fordyce Bank & Trust and now has locations in southeast Arkansas — Fordyce, Rison, Pine Bluff and White Hall — with total assets of more than $250 million.
GOP to meet Thursday
The Jefferson County Republican Committee hold its monthly meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday at Larry’s Pizza Dollarway in White Hall. Participants will vote on the September minutes at the meeting, according to a news release.
UAPB has clear bag policy
As part of the ongoing efforts to enhance safety and security at university-sanctioned events, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff has implemented a Clear Bag Policy, according to a news release.
This policy applies to all events held on campus, including the UAPB Alumni Assembly on Friday and football games, according to Tanesha Thompson, president of the UAPB/AM&N National Alumni Association Inc.
“This policy is designed to ensure a safer environment for all attendees while minimizing the wait time to enter events. We kindly ask for your cooperation in adhering to these guidelines for a smooth experience at the Alumni Assembly and other upcoming university events.
“Thank you for your understanding and continued support. We look forward to seeing you at our next event,” Thompson said.
Details: https://files.constantcontact.com/b3f1149a701/0fd8373c-9c64-4e05-88cf-42f135e0f88f.pdf.
Businesses to file CTA details
The deadline is fast approaching for many businesses across the country to file with the federal government.
The Corporate Transparency Act, or CTA, requires millions of small business entities to disclose details of their beneficial owners through a Beneficial Ownership Information, or BOI, report. The report is filed through the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, or FinCEN.
The purpose of the CTA is to reduce financial crimes, such as money laundering, by taking stock of ownership information of businesses that operate within or have access to the U.S. market. The CTA is not new, having been enacted in 2021 as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. Its reporting requirements went into effect on Jan. 1, 2024, according to a news release.
Reporting companies must include information identifying “beneficial owners” of the business, including name, date of birth, address and a copy of some specific forms of identification, such as a driver’s license or a passport.
Companies created or registered after Jan. 1, 2024, must also include personal identifying information about the individuals responsible for the filing. Reporting is done entirely online.
Elizabeth Rumley, senior staff attorney at the National Agricultural Law Center, or NALC, said the CTA is a significant topic not just for those in agriculture, but also for all business owners.
As the nation’s leading source of agricultural and food law research and information, the NALC has made it a key part of its mission in 2024 to spread word of the CTA ahead of the December filing deadline. Part of that approach has been the creation of a CTA factsheet, which is available online on the NALC website. Details: nationalaglawcenter.org.