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FIRST COMMERCIAL BANK and three of its holding company's subsidiaries reported the best return on average equity in the state for the first quarter.
First Commercial Bank led with an ROE of 25.81 percent, according to Sheshunoff Information Services Inc. of Austin, Texas. Three of First Commercial Corp.'s subsidiary banks -- Arkansas Bank & Trust in Hot Springs, First National Bank of Conway and Benton State Bank -- also were among the state's top five banks.
The only bank not owned by FCC to crack the top five was First Security Bank of Searcy, fourth with an ROE of 21.87 percent.
"Our objective as a corporation is to be the best organization we can be to enhance shareholder value," says Joe Hatcher, vice chairman of First Commercial Corp. "We think the way to do that is to take good care of our customers.
"We talk about our goals as being strength, profitability and growth, in that order. I think that's reflected by the return on equity numbers. Under Barnett's [Grace] leadership and the...