Bank OZK (NASDAQ:OZK) (NASDAQ: OZK), formerly known as Bank of the Ozarks, is a regional financial institution headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas. Founded in 1903, the bank has grown from a single community bank into a publicly traded company offering a broad range of banking and financial services. Bank OZK serves corporate, institutional and retail customers, emphasizing relationship-driven service and a conservative risk management approach.
The bank’s core business activities center on commercial real estate lending, including permanent financing, construction lending and bridge loans. Key property types financed by Bank OZK include office, multifamily, hospitality, life sciences and mixed-use developments. Beyond real estate lending, the company provides commercial and industrial loans, agriculture and small-business financing, residential mortgage services, deposit products and wealth management solutions. The bank’s Treasury management offerings and digital banking platforms support both business and consumer clients.
With more than 240 financial centers across states such as Arkansas, Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia, Bank OZK maintains a strong presence in attractive real estate and commercial markets throughout the southeastern and western United States. The bank’s geographic footprint has expanded through strategic de novo branch openings and targeted acquisitions designed to complement its lending focus.
Bank OZK’s growth and strategic direction have been guided for decades by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer George B. Gleason III, who joined the bank in 1984 and has overseen its transformation into a leading CRE lender. In 2018, the bank formally adopted the simpler “Bank OZK” name, reflecting its evolution while maintaining its heritage of stability, client focus and disciplined risk management.
