West Plains, Mo. – West Plains Bank and Trust Company President/CEO David M. Gohn has announced that Jeff D. Welch has been appointed to the West Plains Bank and Trust Company Board of Directors as an advisory member.
According to Gohn, as a certified public accountant and licensed attorney in Missouri and Arkansas, Welch is expected to bring an analytical perspective to the board. “Jeff’s expertise in the areas of business, law, and accounting are certain to prove valuable during board discussions,” Gohn said. “We look forward to having Jeff participate in making decisions that will deepen the commitment of West Plains Bank and Trust Company to serve our communities as a strong, community bank.”
Welch expressed his pleasure regarding the appointment. “It is a privilege to join the board of West Plains Bank and Trust Company, a financial institution that has consistently exemplified integrity, community focus, and exceptional customer service,” Welch said. “Since moving to West Plains, I’ve admired the bank’s longstanding commitment to our region. I look forward to contributing to its continued success and learning from the board’s collective wisdom.”
Welch holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Central Arkansas (2000) and earned his Juris Doctor from the William H. Bowen School of Law at the University of Arkansas – Little Rock (2008). He became a licensed CPA in 2002 and was admitted to the bar in 2008.
He grew up in Salem, Ark., and began his career in 2000 with a regional CPA firm in Little Rock. In 2012, Welch relocated to West Plains, Mo., and became a partner at Welch, Couch & Company, CPAs, where he leads the firm’s Missouri-based operations and is deeply committed to serving the financial and advisory needs of both individuals and businesses. The firm also maintains offices in the Arkansas communities of Batesville, Little Rock, and Salem.
With more than two decades of experience in public accounting and business advisory services, Welch has served clients across a variety of industries with a focus on income tax planning, compliance, and strategic advisory work.
An active community member, Welch has served on numerous nonprofit boards, including most recently, the Greater West Plains Area Chamber of Commerce. He and his wife, Kacy, are the proud parents of three daughters who attend school in West Plains. The family enjoys traveling together. In addition, Welch also spends his free time reading, hunting, and golfing.
West Plains Bank and Trust Company opened its doors to customers in 1883, making it the oldest continually operating business in the area. With more than 142 years of service to the local region, total assets of West Plains Bank and Trust Company have grown to more than $695 million with seven locations and a loan production office.
