FNBC announces leadership promotions for Rush, Howard

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Posted September 9, 2026 in General

FNBC has announced the promotion of Matt Rush to Community President for Izard County and Ryan Howard to Executive Vice President, Chief Revenue Officer.

Rush will serve as Community President for FNBC’s Izard County locations, providing leadership and oversight for the bank’s Melbourne and Horseshoe Bend offices, and will continue to be based in Melbourne.

“Matt has built strong relationships with our customers and within the communities we serve in Izard County,” said Chad Hudson, FNBC CEO & President. “His experience, leadership and commitment to community banking make him a natural fit for this role, and we look forward to seeing him continue to grow our presence in Melbourne and Horseshoe Bend.”

Rush joined FNBC in 2016 as a Commercial Lender. He was promoted to Assistant Vice President and Commercial Lender in 2019 and Vice President, Commercial Lending Officer in 2022.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve as Community President and continue building on the strong relationships we have throughout Izard County,” said Rush. “Melbourne and Horseshoe Bend are communities I care deeply about, and I’m proud to continue supporting the communities we call home.”

He earned a bachelor’s degree in business management and a Master of Business Administration from Arkansas State University. Rush is active in the community as a member of the Melbourne Lions Club and Melbourne Industrial Development Committee and serves on the Melbourne School Board.

Howard, who has served as Community President since 2017, will continue to serve as Regional Market President, a position he has held since 2024, with leadership oversight for Sharp, Fulton, Izard and Independence Counties.

As Chief Revenue Officer, a newly created executive leadership position for FNBC, Howard will work closely with FNBC’s executive team to develop and implement strategies focused on revenue growth, operating efficiency and long-term performance. His responsibilities will include strengthening existing revenue streams, identifying new opportunities for growth and supporting strategic expansion within FNBC’s current footprint and into new markets.

“Ryan has played an important role in FNBC’s growth over the past decade, and this new position allows us to leverage his experience and leadership across the organization,” Hudson said. “He brings a strong understanding of our markets, our customers and our business model, and he will be instrumental as we continue working toward our strategic goals.”

Howard joined FNBC in 2016 as Senior Vice President and Commercial Lender in Melbourne. He was named Community President in 2017 and Regional Market President in 2024.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to take on this new role and help shape the next chapter of growth for FNBC,” said Howard. “We have a strong foundation, a great team and a lot of opportunities ahead of us. I look forward to working across the organization to identify new ways to grow, operate more efficiently and position FNBC for long-term success.”

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Finance from Arkansas State University and serves on the Ozarka College Board of Trustees and the Melbourne Industrial Development Commission.

“These promotions reflect the strength of our leadership team and our commitment to developing leaders who understand community banking and the markets we serve,” Hudson added. “Matt and Ryan have both made significant contributions to FNBC, and we are excited about what they will bring to these expanded roles.”