In an announcement Thursday, Citizens Bank said Jeff Teague (pictured) has taken on an expanded role with Citizens Bancshares as chairman and CEO.
Citizens Bancshares of Batesville, Inc. is the holding company for Citizens Bank of Batesville.
In this role, Teague will help guide the policies of Citizens Bank, which recently announced leadership changes with Adam Mitchell stepping into the bank’s CEO role in April 2021.
Teague is taking on the role following the final sale of his automobile dealership family, Teague Auto Group.
“Our shared ‘People First’ mindset is exactly why Citizens Bank is where I want to spend my time,” said Teague in a statement from the financial institution. “I am proud to be part of its progressive leadership team and work with the bank’s CEO, Adam Mitchell, as the bank continues to serve Arkansans with excellence.”
On Wednesday, June 23, Teague finalized the sale of his El Dorado auto dealerships to former NBA legend Karl Malone and officially stepped into this new role. (Click here for more information on this story.)
“Jeff has been a dedicated teammate for years. We look forward to his increased attention to our community-focused bank,” said Adam Mitchell, CEO of Citizens Bank. “He is a trusted community partner and committed to enhancing our “Beyond Banking’ solutions.”
Teague’s involvement in Citizens Bank, however, goes beyond the official position. The bank was founded by the grandfather of his wife, Sarah, more than 60 years ago. The family’s support has been steady ever since.
Teague is a graduate of Dumas High School and went on to earn a degree in math from Ouachita Baptist University in 1978. According to a biography provided by the National Automobile Dealers Association, he worked in auto sales and for Arkansas Power & Light Co. until 1981, when he and his father bought a Chevrolet-Oldsmobile dealership in Walnut Ridge.
Teague has been a pillar of his community and was even named Time magazine’s national Dealer of the Year for 2014, the bank said in the statement. Teague has served his community in many capacities through various organizations including Rotary International, chairman of the South Arkansas Regional Airport Commission, El Dorado Economic Development Board, member of the Arkansas State Police Commission, and two local chambers of commerce.
A pilot for 26 years, he has used this skill to serve others, flying church staff for charitable initiatives and even flying to New Orleans to bring home a child who was a victim of domestic kidnapping.
For more information about Citizens Bank, click here.
Image via Citizens Bank
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