Arvest Bank filed its second lawsuit this week involving a former bank president.
The complaint the bank filed Friday in Benton County Circuit Court claims HDS Holdings and Henry Dennis Smiley Sr. owe $368,255 on five loans worth $428,550.
Smiley Sr. is the father of Dennis Smiley Jr., former president and chief executive officer of Arvest Bank of Benton County. The younger Smiley suddenly resigned from Arvest on March 13.
HDS Holdings is a holding company they have together.
Arvest also filed a complaint Monday claiming Smiley Jr.; his wife, Cynthia Smiley; and her business, Design for the Home, owe nearly $82,000 on a pair of loans worth $90,000.
This isn't the first time the elder Smiley has been named in a lawsuit involving the holding company he has with his son.
First Security Bank claims the Smileys and HDS Holdings owe $233,306 on loans worth $240,000.
Other lawsuits claiming loan default: Simmons First National Bank sued Smiley Sr. and HDS Holdings for $88,716; Delta Trust claims the Smileys and the holding company owes $245,126; First Federal claims they owe $71,342; and Bank of Fayetteville claims Smiley Jr. owes $479,177, HDS Holdings owes $215,012 and Smiley Sr. owes $42,066.
Smiley Sr. has claimed in several filings he didn't sign for loans taken out in his name or that of HDS Holdings.
Smiley Jr., in a response to a complaint by Delta Trust & Bank stated, "the purported signature of Smiley Sr. that appears on the promissory note may not be the actual signatures of Smiley Sr."
Circuit Court Judge John Scott called a pretrial conference for 1:30 p.m. Sept. 18 in Room 208 of the Benton County Courthouse. A letter sent to attorneys in the case states Scott will decide pending motions and set the trial date during the hearing.
NW News on 08/23/2014