Arkansas

Venture Center & ABA Launch Fintech Accelerator for Arkansas Banks

Published

2 years ago

August 19, 2024

Venture Center & ABA Launch Fintech Accelerator for Arkansas Banks

(The Venture Center of Little Rock)

The Venture Center and the Arkansas Bankers Association have teamed up to launch a new technology accelerator aimed at addressing challenges specific to Arkansas banks.

Ten startups will be selected for the Arkansas Banking Solutions Accelerator, a 12-week program to advance technology in the state and help local banks navigate the ever-changing financial sector.

This initiative marks a shift for the Venture Center, which has led the program for years with the Independent Community Bankers of America. But the new partnership with the ABA is part of an ongoing effort to “refocus on Arkansas,” said Daniel Schutte, vice president of strategic partnerships at the Venture Center.

The Banking Solutions Accelerator distinguishes itself from other fintech accelerators by targeting specific pain points of Arkansas banks. One major issue banks are facing is what Lorrie Trogden, president and CEO of the ABA, calls a “huge niche” — compliance and regulatory technology, especially in an increasingly complex landscape.

“We face a myriad of new regulations constantly. It feels like every day there’s a new regulation coming out,” Trogden said.

She cited Regulation 1071, which requires financial institutions to compile and report lending data for women-owned, minority-owned and small businesses, all within an 18-month period.

Those regulatory burdens can be especially challenging for smaller community banks, which sometimes lack the resources and funds to develop in-house solutions, Trogden said.

“It’s one thing to have something new and shiny and great. And there will always be a place for that,” Trogden said. “But for the banks, it’s all driven by regulation.”

In hopes of addressing regulation technology, or regtech, the program aims to connect Arkansas banks with companies that can provide tailored, cost-effective solutions. While companies from anywhere can apply, Schutte noted there might be some “bias” towards regional companies already addressing problems faced by Arkansas banks.

Though he emphasized that overall, the program is still looking for the “best tech.”

The selection process will involve interviews conducted by the Venture Center, followed by a committee review to choose the startups with the most potential. Selected companies will have one-on-one meetings with leaders in the Arkansas banking industry and ABA-member banks, as well as access to the Venture Center’s out-of-state network.

A key focus of the accelerator is addressing the needs of community banks, which are a significant part of Arkansas’ financial landscape. On top of aiding regulatory compliance, the program aims to help local banks stay technologically competitive and prevent customers from going out of state for more advanced offerings.

“We want to keep all of the dollars that are coming from Arkansas citizens with our banks that are here in Arkansas,” Trogden said. “We want to provide everything that they need so they don’t have to take their dollars outside of the state. I think that’s what this accelerator program will do.”

The Banking Solutions Accelerator, which will begin in mid-September, will conclude with a demo day in December, during which the ten selected companies will pitch their solutions to potential investors and industry participants. Each company will receive a monetary investment, and the event is expected to attract around 400 attendees.

“We fundamentally believe we can impact Arkansas through this,” Schutte said. “That’s really our fundamental goal long term: doing it all where banks win, companies win, the state wins. Nobody loses in this kind of economic development work.”

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Arkansas

No. 1 Arkansas leads SEC Indoor after first day finals

Published

7 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

No. 1 Arkansas leads SEC Indoor after first day finals

Shawn Price
February 26, 2026

COLLEGE STATION – A victory in the 5,000m by Nick Busienei and third place in the distance medley relay had No. 1 Arkansas leading the team score with 18 points on the first day of the SEC Indoor Championships.

The Razorbacks produced 12 of those points in the 5,000m as Nick Busienei won the race in a meet record of 13;31.86, which ranks him No. 7 on the UA all-time list. Busienei bettered the meet record of 13:37.52 set by Razorback Patrick Kiprop in 2025.

James Sankei added two more points in placing seventh with a time of 13:44.57.

Dating back to 1992 when Arkansas competed in its first SEC Indoor meet, Busienei claimed the 21st title for the program and is the 14th Razorback to win the indoor 5,000m.

Six more points were added in the distance medley relay as Arkansas posted a time of 9:30.84 from the foursome of Owan Logorodi (2:58.46), Zyaire Nuriddin (46.51), Julian Carter (1:49.10), and Brian Masai (3:56.77).

South Carolina won the race in 9:30.08 with Ole Miss runner-up in 9:30.34. Florida originally placed third in 9:30.37 but was disqualified for spiking the baton at the conclusion of the race.

Jelani Watkins led the Razorback crew in the 200m prelims as three Arkansas sprinters advanced to the final. Watkins produced an indoor career best of 20.42 rank second overall to a 20.38 by Florida’s Wayna McCoy. Watkins remains No. 2 on the UA all-time list as he improved his previous time of 20.43.

Dapriest Hogans followed with a 20.63 that equaled his career best and his No. 8 ranking on the UA all-time list. Tevijon Williams clocked 20.65 to reach the final where 20.71 was the cutoff time. Jamarion Stubbs ran 20.87 in his prelim heat.

Cooper Williams completed the first day of the heptathlon in sixth place with 2,862 points. He started with a 7.43 in the 60m (736), then added a 21-9.5 (6.64) long jump (729). In the shot put, a mark of 36-8.25 (11.18) picked up 557 points. Williams wrapped up day one by topping the field in the high jump with a clearance of 6-8.25 for 840 points.

Link Lindsey placed 15 in the long jump with a mark of 23-6.75 (7.18).

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Arkansas

The wall goes back up: Arkansas embraces defiant isolation

Published

19 hours ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

The wall goes back up: Arkansas embraces defiant isolation

“Arkansans have been made better economically, intellectually and socially by letting go of the ‘terrified truculence’ toward outsiders in recent decades. Sadly, as we’ve experienced this sad winter, all signs are that many similar seasons of defiant isolation are in our state’s future,” writes political scholar Jay Barth.

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Arkansas

Man arrested in Arkansas connected to Jan. 2026 fatal hit-and-run in Dallas

Published

1 day ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Man arrested in Arkansas connected to Jan. 2026 fatal hit-and-run in Dallas

DALLAS – Authorities in Arkansas have arrested a man accused of being behind the wheel during a January car crash that left one man dead.

Suspect arrested in Arkansas for Dallas hit-and-run

What we know:

U.S. Marshals tracked down 22-year-old Enrique Hernandez in De Queen, a southwest Arkansas town about three hours away from Dallas and an hour north of Texarkana.

Hernandez has been charged with collision involving death, a second-degree felony, in connection with the case. He is currently being held in an Arkansas jail before he is transferred to a jail in Dallas County.

What we don’t know:

Dallas police haven’t said if the suspect has any ties to the victim or the area of Arkansas where he was arrested.

The backstory:

The fatal hit-and-run occurred around 3 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 11 near W. Davis St. and N. Westmoreland Dr. in Dallas.

26-year-old Johnathan Rodriguez was dropped off by friends outside his Dallas neighborhood early Sunday morning after celebrating his birthday.

Surveillance video shows Rodriguez in the media area of the road when a dark-colored SUV hits him and drives away.

Rodriguez was left with severe head trauma, later dying from his injuries.

A bittersweet victory for the family

What they’re saying:

John Rodriguez, the victim’s father, struggled to find the words to describe the news he received.

“It’s not going to bring him back, bring my son back,” Rodriguez told FOX 4’s Peyton Yager. “It hurts every day, every minute. I wake up every morning, and he is not here. We are really going to miss him.”

The Rodriguez family worked with police to help find their son’s killer. They found more surveillance video near the scene of the accident that helped authorities find and arrest Hernandez in Arkansas.

“We are going to fight for justice. Long live Johnny, and we are going to keep on fighting,” Rodriguez said.

The Source: Information in this story came from current and previous FOX 4 reporting.

NewsDallasCrime and Public SafetyArkansas

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