10/19/2022

Spending More to Survive

Laura Merling isn’t your typical banker. The former Google executive joined $26.6 billion Arvest Bank Group in February 2022 as chief transformation and operations officer, tasked with leading a multi-year digital transformation initiative at the bank. She’s worked at an array of companies, including Ford Motor Co. and AT&T. Bentonville, Arkansas-based Arvest Bank is primarily owned by the Walton family – yes, those Waltons, the Walmart heirs with an estimated $200 billion combined net worth; Jim Walton serves as the bank’s chair. Merling says she was drawn to the bank’s willingness to commit resources to its transformation, along with her…

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WRITTEN BY

Emily McCormick

Vice President of Editorial & Research

Emily McCormick is Vice President of Editorial & Research for Bank Director. Emily oversees research projects, from in-depth reports to Bank Director’s annual surveys on M&A, risk, compensation, governance and technology. She also manages content for the Bank Services Program, including Bank Director’s Online Training Series. In addition to speaking and moderating discussions at Bank Director’s in-person and virtual events, Emily writes and edits for Bank Director magazine, BankDirector.com and Bank Director’s weekly newsletter, The Slant. She started her career in the circulation department at the Knoxville News-Sentinel and graduated summa cum laude from The University of Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and International Business.

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