Philip Shell is looking forward to putting his more than 30 years of experience to work for First Service Bank customers.

Philip recently joined FSB as a Sr. Mortgage Loan Officer. He previously worked as a mortgage lender supervisor at another financial institution in Conway. At First Service, Philip wants to contribute to the growth and success of the bank while continuing his drive to provide superior customer service. “I want to continue my 31-year history of making home ownership and strong customer outcomes for the people of Faulkner County and Arkansas,” he said. “I am excited knowing that I will be a part of a strong, family-oriented bank.”

In 1992, Philip earned a bachelor’s degree from Hendrix College. In 2008, he received a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Philip was finishing his degree at Hendrix when a family friend, who was president of a Conway bank, approached him about joining the financial institution. He said the friend told him they would teach him to become a banker. “I guess they did, and I have enjoyed it so much that I never left banking.”

Philip has a variety of lending experience, including commercial, construction, consumer and mortgage. Over the last 18 years, he has focused exclusively on mortgage lending.

“The satisfaction I get is meeting and getting to know people from all walks of life who want to know they are being offered the best financial solutions for their lives,” he said. “Probably the best experience is helping a first-time homebuyer understand what is involved in taking that dream of buying a home and making it a reality. Then, getting to help them again with their next home or with refinancing. Having been in this business as long as I have, I have been very fortunate to help some families many, many times.”

Born in Conway, Philip lives in Little Rock with his wife, Leah Lasley. They have two adult children, John and Rees. Philip has been a member and elder at Second Presbyterian Church in Little Rock for the last 13 years.

Philip has served his community over the years by volunteering with a variety of non-profit organizations. “I have served with the chamber and non-profits in Conway along with being part of the Toad Suck Daze Committee, serving as event chair in 1999,” he said. “I am a longtime member of the Kiwanis Club of Conway and I currently serve as vice chairman of the Hendrix College Alumni Board.”  

In explaining what drew him to First Service Bank, Philip cited FSB’s “small-town feel” and the focus placed on taking care of the customer. “My family and the Grumbles family have known each other for nearly 70 years,” he said. “Being a part of the culture that First Service created and has excelled in is a culture that I believe will be a very strong fit for me.”

Three generations of the Grumbles family are currently involved in the operation of First Service Bank, which is headquartered in Faulkner County. The bank has been in operation for more than 60 years and has locations in Clinton, Conway, Dermott, Flippin, Greenbrier, Little Rock, Mountain View, Shirley and Yellville, with a location coming soon to Maumelle. For more information, visit firstservicebank.com.