After graduating from high school, Melinda Rollans spent a few months working at home on the family farm before being hired at the Bank of Dardanelle on November 28, 1983. “They had just started using computers a few months before I started,” she said. “Then-vice president Sonny Lambert took me under his wing and taught me about the computer system.”
Rollans began her banking career in the bookkeeping department, then worked in the proof and information technology departments before being named vice president and manager of IT. When River Town Bank merged with Chambers Bank in 2019, she served in a key role on the transition team, helping customers navigate the changes accompanying the merger.
Today Rollans celebrates four decades of serving customers in Dardanelle and the River Valley.
“Technology has been the biggest change,” Rollans said. “I went from filing checks in file cabinets and pulling these to mail in bank statements by hand to all of that being automated. In proof, we processed the teller work, keyed in any rejects, and bundled other banks’ checks to be picked up by a courier service and driven to Little Rock.”
Asked about her long tenure at the same company, Rollans said, “I got married and started a family, and I loved my job at the bank. The people I work with are like my family and they are a great support when needed.”
Even after 40 years of service, Rollans remains committed to excellent customer service. “It is so nice to work for a bank where a person answers the phone and customers can get on-site help. Never be afraid to ask for help.”
Thank you, Melinda!