Personal Bankers of Little Rock: Pete Maris
July 30, 2018
“My first two jobs at Bank of Little Rock were to be president and take the trash out.” That’s what Pete Maris remembers about founding Bank of Little Rock in 1989. Interestingly, the bank’s original charter was for a location at 301 E. Broadway in North Little Rock, next to the 3-Star Muffler Company. Pete says “When we first opened, that’s how we’d tell folks to find us!”
The Bank of Little Rock purchased the property at Cantrell and State Streets in 1996 and built what is now their main Office in 1997. According to Pete, it’s the perfect location in downtown because, as he puts it, “It doesn’t feel like downtown – you can park right at the front door.”
Pete is the Chairman/CEO of Bank of Little Rock but it isn’t his first time in that capacity, having served as president at Pulaski Bank for six years. Prior to that, Pete was a banker for 17 years at Worthen Bank and Trust Co.
When asked why he was inspired to open Bank of Little Rock, Pete says his dream was to have a bank where people felt as comfortable coming into the bank lobby as they felt in their own living room. In fact, that’s exactly how Bank of Little Rock lobbies are decorated. “Our business is built around personalized banking and not even our business structure feels ‘corporate’ because of the way we operate.”
Pete goes on to say, “This bank is different because everything we do is about serving customers. Our goal was never to become the biggest – only the best in taking care of folks. We’re simply people helping people and our customers love that about us.”
Just as Bank of Little Rock is focused on our community, so is Pete, having grown up attending Pulaski Heights Junior High, Hall High, and finally making the trek to the University of Arkansas. He and his wife Barbara celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary two years ago and he spends most of his out-of-bank time with his grandchildren either at the duck club or enjoying weekends at their house on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs.
Pete likes simple things, including keeping customers’ lives simple when it comes to their banking. If you don’t know Pete, drop by the main branch and say “hi.” If you’re from Little Rock, chances are you’ll have some connections to talk about.