02 May 2023 Person of the Month: Susannah T. Marshall

Family: My husband, Wilks Marshall, and I have been married for 18 years. My family is also comprised of many cousins and a lifetime of close friends.  I am from Newport (Jackson County).

Education: I attended Hendrix College and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Arkansas State University, Jonesboro. I am also a 2002 graduate of the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University, Dallas.

Work: I am honored to serve as the Bank Commissioner for the Arkansas State Bank Department. I began my career with the agency in 1995 as a Bank Examiner Trainee and was appointed Bank Commissioner in October 2020. I have held many positions within the Bank Department, including 13 years as Deputy Bank Commissioner.

Professional accomplishments:

I am very involved with our national association of state bank regulators, the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS). I currently, and have previously, serve on the Board of CSBS and I am active in many committees and work groups within the association. I have also been re-appointed to a two-year term to serve as a member of the State Liaison Committee of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council, a formal interagency body comprised of all federal and state regulators, which promotes uniformity in the supervision of financial institutions.

professional journey: 

It was a case of being in the right place at the right time. I began working at a local community bank in Northeast Arkansas during the summer before college and have never stopped working in the banking industry. I had recently graduated college and was working full-time at a local bank when I was introduced to a Bank Department examiner. A phone call, two interviews, a denial and a subsequent offer later, and the rest is a wonderful 28-year history. My regulatory career and the Arkansas banking industry are my passions.

Community/church activities: 

I enjoy serving in a variety of roles at Trinity United Methodist Church. As my schedule allows, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve in a lay leadership role on the Church Council, the finance committee and the women’s ministry. I am also a proud member of the Chancel Ringers, our amazing handbell ensemble.

Most cherished possession: 

My photos, belongings and amazing memories of my parents and grandparents. Seeing a photo or a holiday decoration from my childhood gives me comfort and strength and a reminder of their love and the sacrifices they made for me.

‘The Arkansas State Bank Department has an amazing team dedicated to overseeing the state’s banking industry. The agency’s mission is to provide the public with access to safe and sound banking products and services to meet their needs and provide economic opportunities to Arkansas communities and the state as a whole.’

 – Susannah Marshall