First National became one of Cranford Johnson's first clients in 1963. The relationship proved mutually beneficial right from the start and when First National built the state's tallest building in 1973, Cranford Johnson handled all of the PR and event planning as well as moving into the 22nd floor (our home until we moved across the street to the current building in 1985).
In the mid-‘70s, First National merged with Commercial National Bank to become First Commercial Bank—solidifying its position as Arkansas's largest financial institution and helping forge many more profitable relationships through the bank's national advisory board, comprised of Arkansans who were heads of Fortune 500 Companies.
CJRW worked with First Commercial Bank for more than 25 years, through good times and better times. While instability and consolidation shook up the banking industry across Arkansas and the nation, our relationship remained solid right up until the merger with Regions Bank in 1998. The experience CJRW gained working with First Commercial (and other banks in other markets, from Louisiana to Tennessee) helps us today as we work to build Centennial Bank into the dominant bank for Arkansas and Florida in the 21st century.