Arvest Opportunity Fund Establishes Advisory Board to Support Financial Empowerment of Underbanked Population

The Arvest Opportunity Fund, a subsidiary of Fayetteville-chartered Arvest Bank, has recently announced the establishment of an advisory board. This board is made up of six members from the bank’s four-state footprint and will play a crucial role in supporting the mission of the fund.

The chair of the advisory board is Hillis Schild from Little Rock, who also serves as the executive director of the Arvest Opportunity Fund. Other members include individuals from various organizations such as the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology, Money Management International, Community Housing of Wyandotte County, and Missouri State University.

These advisory board members have been selected based on their expertise and understanding of the challenges faced by the underbanked population. Their experience and guidance will be invaluable in supporting the mission of the fund, which aims to help individuals achieve their full potential through financial empowerment and education.

The board members will serve three-year terms and hold regular meetings throughout the year. Since its launch in August 2022, the Arvest Opportunity Fund has provided loans, lines of credit, and financial education to small businesses that do not meet traditional bank credit requirements. The program has already assisted 466 small businesses with a total of $13.7 million in loans. This success highlights the impact and importance of the fund in supporting underserved communities and promoting economic growth across its four-state footprint.