Update at 10:14 a.m., Sept. 5, 2026: Bilek sent JRN a statement, discussing the closure of the Washington branch. That statement is below:

“How customers choose to bank with us has changed significantly in recent years. While branches remain an essential part of our customer experience, many routine transactions have migrated to digital, ATM, phone and other self-service channels. As customer preferences continue to evolve, we periodically evaluate our physical network to ensure we are serving customers where and how they prefer to bank while preserving the relationship-based service they value. After careful review, we have decided to close 26 branch locations effective Friday, December 4. By reducing overlap within our network, we create additional capacity to invest in customer-facing capabilities, digital tools, product innovation and other enhancements that strengthen the overall customer experience. This redeployment will help us drive growth in all our markets.

As we undertake this effort to build a stronger and more sustainable delivery model, we remain focused on supporting customers throughout the transition. We will not compromise the customer experience, and receiving branches have been evaluated to ensure they can effectively support incoming customers while maintaining service levels. Our commitment to serving our communities remains unchanged. Customers will continue to have access to banking services through nearby branches and other banking channels, and we will maintain a strong presence in the communities we serve.

Specifically, in Jonesboro, our branch at 501 W. Washington is scheduled to close and customers can visit our branch at 711 Southwest Dr, which is approximately two miles away. We are retaining 100% of our Jonesboro associates. The Jonesboro community is an important market for Simmons Bank. We remain committed to serving our customers in the community, including through our rebuilt financial center at 1720 S. Caraway [Road], which we completed in 2025.”

Ed Bilek, EVP, Director of Investor & Media Relations and Corporate Insurance, Simmons Bank

Update at 2:30 p.m. Sept. 4, 2026: The Jonesboro Sun reported that the branch at 501 W. Washington Ave. will be closing this December. Bilek told the news outlet that customers can visit the branch at 711 Southwest Drive, which is two miles away from the Washington location.

Original story below:

Jonesboro, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – A local Simmons Bank branch will close its doors this winter as its parent company, Simmons First National Corporation, executes a strategic reduction of its retail footprint across six states.

The Pine Bluff-based financial institution finalized a decision on Sept. 1 to close 26 branches, a move expected to take effect on Friday, Dec. 4, according to a recent Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing. A report by Arkansas Business confirmed that branches are being closed in several cities in the state, including Jonesboro.

The company said the closures stem from a broader review of its retail network strategy, intended to align with “evolving customer preferences” while pointing customers toward nearby branches and digital banking solutions.

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While it has been confirmed Jonesboro is among the cities seeing a branch closure, Simmons has not yet publicly announced which specific branch in the city will be closing. Management believes the transition will cause limited disruption to customers, noting in the SEC filing that there is no significant geographic concentration among the targeted branches.

Across the 26 affected locations, the closures will impact approximately 100 associates. However, Simmons noted it expects to retain about 70% of those employees by placing them in other branch locations or alternative roles within the company.

These upcoming closures follow earlier staff reductions reported by Arkansas Business in August. At the time, the bank did not disclose the number of positions affected or specific locations, although there were already local whispers of changes within the Jonesboro operation.

Ed Bilek, Simmons Bank’s director of investor and media relations, stated those adjustments were part of “shifts in operational structures and personnel changes” tied to regular operational reviews.

While those prior summer reductions were not formally filed with regulators, the bank linked them to ongoing efficiency initiatives, which coincided with a reported 22% net income increase in the second quarter of 2026.

The newly announced branch closures are a continuation of that wider corporate initiative aimed at simplifying the bank’s organizational structure, streamlining processes, and enhancing the use of technology and automation.

The company said it expects to incur between $20 million to $23 million in pre-tax expenses related to the closures, driven largely by $17 million to $19 million in real estate write-downs and lease terminations, alongside professional fees and severance costs.

When factoring in broader corporate restructuring efforts, the company expects to incur $40 million to $45 million in expenses during the third quarter of 2026.

Once fully implemented, Simmons projects these initiatives will boost its annual pre-provision net revenue by $37 million to $42 million. The bank noted it may reinvest a portion of those anticipated benefits into strategic growth initiatives.

Customers of the affected Jonesboro branch can expect to receive direct communication from Simmons Bank outlining the transition of their accounts and guidance on utilizing nearby locations ahead of the December closure date.

Currently, Simmons Bank operates at the following locations in Jonesboro:

• 1720 S. Caraway Road (Regional hub)
• 501 W. Washington Ave.
• 711 Southwest Drive

Additionally, Simmons operates a drive-up ATM located at 2106 E. Johnson Ave. near the Arkansas State University campus.

Other cities in Arkansas impacted as part of the consolidation include Fort Smith, Hot Springs, North Little Rock, and Pine Bluff.

This is a developing story. JRN will provide updates as they are available.

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