Arkansas TARP Participants

Three banks so far in our state have taken TARP money, according to this useful map and chart. Home Bancshares, Inc. received $50 million, Southern Bancorp, Inc. received $11 million, and Bank of the Ozarks received $75 million.

There will likely be increased pressure on them all to lend more and not sit on that money as Congress gets back in session, particularly given the spread they are making for borrowing those funds at nearly 0% and loaning them out around 5%. That could give an investor with good credit and a decent down payment some real leverage in negotiating terms.