West Plains, Mo. – West Plains Bank and Trust Company has announced well-known, local lender Eric Wells has joined Liberty Branch in Mountain View, Mo., as Market President. Wells has 19 years of banking experience in the Missouri communities of West Plains, Nixa, Houston, and Mountain View.
According to West Plains Bank and Trust Company President/Chief Executive Officer David M. Gohn, Wells is an excellent fit with the community banking team in Mountain View. “Eric has worked most of his career in a community bank, giving him an appreciation of the importance of developing and taking care of customer relationships,” Gohn said. “We have great confidence that he will provide a high degree of personalized service, which customers of our bank have come to expect. We also look forward to having him join us in our community involvement efforts.”
Wells said the decision to join West Plains Bank and Trust Company allows him to return to true community banking. “I enjoy getting to know clients and figuring out how to best help them meet their financial goals,” Wells said. “My background primarily consists of working with commercial and agriculture customers. I love visiting with them about their operations and working together to help grow their business.
“I like getting out of the office, going to my customers’ places of business or farms. I have built some great relationships over the years. I always do my best to help match them with the right banking services for their specific needs.”
Originally from Alabama, Wells graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in finance. In 2001, upon marrying his wife Shauna (McVicker) Wells, he moved to Mountain View, Mo., and began his career in banking in 2002, working in West Plains.
From West Plains, Wells relocated to Nixa, Mo., in 2005 where he worked as a lender. He then moved to Houston, Mo., in 2007, eventually returning to his wife’s hometown of Mountain View in 2017.
Wells has attended the American Bankers Association Commercial Lending School, Dallas, Texas. He also attended the Graduate School of Banking, Boulder, Colo. His resume also includes a long list of community service: Mountain View-Birch Tree School Board (current member); City of Houston Industrial Development Board (member); past treasurer for Mountain View Rotary Club and Houston Area Chamber of Commerce; past Missouri State University–West Plains advisory board member for the Houston campus; Houston Lions Club (past member); youth director of Ozarks Baptist Church, Houston, Mo.; and current member of First Baptist Church, Mountain View, Mo.
When he’s not helping bank customers or volunteering, Wells has a love of spending time outdoors with his family and working on the farm. He also enjoys flying and holds a commercial pilot’s license.
Wells will work Monday through Friday at West Plains Bank and Trust Company Liberty Branch. To reach him, call 417.934.1047 or email eric.wells@westplainsbank.com.
West Plains Bank and Trust Company opened its doors to customers in 1883, making it the oldest continually operating business in Southern Missouri. With more than 137 years of service to the local region, West Plains Bank and Trust Company has grown to a $500 million community bank with six locations and two loan production offices. For more information, visit westplainsbank.com or follow West Plains Bank and Trust Company on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter
