Personal Bankers of Little Rock: Lee Ann Hogue
November 3, 2017
Like others in her Bank of Little Rock family, Lee Ann Hogue started her banking career right out of High School. In fact, after graduating from McClellan High, she took her first job with First Federal Savings and Loan here in Little Rock. That was in 1981 and she spent the following 10 years with First Federal, honing her skills as a customer service representative and realizing the importance of one-to-one banking relationships.
According to Lee Ann, “I loved working with Kristi Shuster back in those early days, and when I left First Federal to join Bank of Little Rock, I really missed her. That is, until Kristi also had an opportunity to join Bank of Little Rock, which she did!”
So in 1991, after 10 years with First Federal, Lee Ann joined Bank of Little Rock in their original west Little Rock branch on Rainwood Drive. The following year, she moved to the new Heights branch on “R” Street, where she worked with Pete Maris, Cindy Hippler – and her old friend, Kristi Shuster.
?Lee Ann soon had the opportunity to manage another branch, this time on Rodney Parham Road. And after 16 years there, Bank of Little Rock moved that branch to Merrill Drive where it stands today and where Lee Ann serves as Vice President and Branch Manager. This year she celebrated her 26th anniversary at the Bank of Little Rock.
Why is Bank of Little Rock different from other banks? Lee Ann says, “It’s simply because we get to know our customers – personally as well as professionally. We aren’t choked by corporate bureaucracy and, in real life, there are exceptions to every rule. We stay on top of our customers’ accounts and banking business; we take the time to do things for them that bigger banks don’t, or can’t. And that’s what separates us from the others.”
When it comes to Lee Ann’s professional family, Bank of Little Rock continues to prove it’s a special place. “When my mother passed away on Christmas Day, my banking family came, they fed us, and they supported us in every way. Working here means way more than just having a job.”
Lee Ann loves spending time with her nine (count ‘em) grandchildren – three boys from son Blake and daughter-in-law Rachel, and three girls and a boy from daughter Jana and son-in-law Damon. Plus, she claims two more “bonus” grandchildren from Amber and son-in-law Bryan shared with her long-time companion Louis. She is very proud of all her grandchildren and her oldest grandchild has joined the military, training to be a Special Operations Army Ranger. Lee Ann’s other grandchildren, while keeping good grades in school, stay busy with football, baseball, soccer, and gymnastics.
?While she claims to love bargain shopping, you can imagine that Lee Ann doesn’t have much time for that. Between her personal and professional families, she has a lot of folks to take care of. But there’s nothing she’d rather do.
The next time you’re tooling around the Rodney Parham Road area, pop onto Merrill Drive and then duck into our branch. Lee Ann would love to see you!