02 Jan 2026 Five-Oh-Ones to Watch 2026: Destiny Lankford
By Phyllis Ormsby
Destiny Lankford has found a way to be of service to others in both her career and personal life.
“There is no greater feeling than getting to help someone buy their first home or watching someone build their dream home. I still get giddy over it,” said Lankford, a business development and mortgage loan officer with First Service Bank in Conway. “I also love getting to know and building relationships with customers and watching their businesses grow. There is no better compliment than a customer calling to ask for something and saying, ‘You know you’re my go-to.’”
That service to others continues away from her office, as Lankford serves as the president of the United Way of Central Arkansas, which serves Faulkner, Conway, Perry and Van Buren counties. “I cannot say enough about United Way and all the incredible work we do within the communities we serve. We are focused on fostering a greater quality of life through initiatives focused on youth opportunity, healthy community, financial security and community resilience,” she said. “I am so grateful for the staff and incredible board members I get to serve alongside through United Way and have deep admiration for the impact United Way makes within our community.”
Lankford grew up in the Mount Vernon-Enola area, and her husband, Daniel, is from Conway. In 2014, the couple bought a house in Conway after he finished flight school at Fort Novosel in Alabama. “When we got back, we knew we wanted to make Conway home,” she said.
They couldn’t be happier with the area they chose. “I love how the Conway community always comes together to support one another,” she said. “Whether it be a chamber event for the public, a fundraising event for a nonprofit, sports games for the kids or school events. You see the same people in the community shaking hands and supporting one another through both business and personal endeavors.”
With three boys, Dyson, Denver and Decker, Lankford is certainly a busy working mom, often shuttling one or more kids from school at St. Joseph to after school practices or games while also juggling work and volunteering. Her role model was her mom, she said. “Growing up, I rarely got to see her sit down and relax. Working hard and taking care of others was always her priority. She made it look effortless and it is because God gave her the biggest servant’s heart,” Lankford said. “She’s always trying to be the best version of herself for others around her. She is the perfect combination of grit and grace, and I aspire to have those same qualities.”
She is quick to thank her mentors, family, friends and leaders, past and present, who have had a hand in her journey. “I still remember the days I prayed for the things I have now,” Lankford said. “I am proud to be a military wife and so proud of the sacrifices my husband makes, proud to be a mom to three incredible boys and proud to get to come to a job every day where I get to serve others and help people with their finances. I am proud to work for a company that supports me and treats its customers like family.”
