Scaling a Community Bank: Tech, Team, and Deposits
Guest: Brant Ward, President of Signature Bank of Arkansas
Podcast Show Notes:
Our This Month In Banking (TMIB) podcast features discussion with colleagues and other industry thought leaders on interesting banking topics. TMIB is available on the last Wednesday of every month here, and on Apple and Android podcast apps for your listening enjoyment. Join us on your commute, at your desk, or home.
Topic: Scaling a Community Bank: Tech, Team, and Deposits
On this episode of “This Month in Banking,” we are joined by a true innovator in the world of community banking, Brant Ward, President of Signature Bank of Arkansas. Signature Bank operates in one of the fastest-growing regions in the country, and under Brant’s leadership, it has become a model for how to combine traditional banking values with a forward-thinking, tech-driven strategy. Brant has successfully navigated the challenges of a fast-moving market by focusing on building a loyal team, strengthening a profitable deposit base, and investing in key business verticals.
We’ll dive into his unique approach, exploring how the bank has leveraged technology not only to scale growth but also to control costs along the way. We’ll discuss how Signature Bank has built trust with private equity partners, cultivated a strong internal culture, and pioneered innovative community initiatives like Banco Sí. This is a must-listen for any community banker looking to stay ahead of the curve.
Biography
Brant Ward is President of Signature Bank of Arkansas, a community bank founded in Fayetteville in 2005. In that same year, he earned his MBA in Business Entrepreneurship and Finance from Walton College and joined the startup team at Signature.
Brant began his banking career as a Banking Trainee and worked his way through retail, lending, funding, finance, and administration before ultimately becoming COO then President. He has spent time on the Other Real Estate Owned (OREO) management team, and has managed the Bank’s liquidity, bond portfolio, internet deposits, and forecasting models and reports. He is engaged in the preparation of budgets, setting of deposit rates, management of the Asset/Liabilities, and development of new funding sources.
Brant is passionate about community banking and its role in growing and strengthening communities. He is also excited by the possibilities unlocked by FinTechs to partner with community banks to bring more and better services to consumers and small business owners. In addition to his MBA, Brant received a BAA in Business Management from Henderson State University and completed the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado. Brant is married with two sons, who keep him very busy as a coach for Fayetteville Youth Baseball and Boys and Girls Basketball teams.
Relevant Links:
This podcast episode relates to The Kafafian Group’s Performance Measurement and Strategic Management services.
Watch for episode 118 of This Month in Banking to be released on Wednesday, October 29th, 2025, and a new episode on the last Wednesday of every month.
Thank you for listening!