Catherine Owen

Cathy Owen is currently Chair, President & CEO of State Holding Company, which is the holding company for Eagle Bank & Trust Company, Little Rock, AR. She is also Executive Chair of the bank, which is 105 years old, $490 million state bank, with 13 branches in central Arkansas, and Mortgage Loan Offices in Arkansas, Idaho, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

Owen has remained active in the banking industry, business, and the community. This year, she celebrated her 50th year in banking, having started to work at the bank when she was a teenager, as the shred clerk. She has served in nearly every capacity within the bank, up to and including president and CEO. She served as Chair of the Arkansas Bankers Association (2018-2019) and remains the only female to serve in this position in its 135-year history. This was a particularly tough year, as the Association President became ill and passed away, unexpectedly. She was tasked with not only hiring a new President, but also running the Association in the interim, and working with the new President.

In October 2024 Owen was elected as Vice Chair of the American Bankers Association’s Board. She held several past roles on ABA’s Board and Executive Committee including Chair of the Compensation Committee and on the Membership and Dues Committee, Chair of the Government Relations Council and the Professional Development Council, which she chaired for 5 years. She also serves on the Conference of State Bank Supervisors Bank Advisory Board.

Owen is responsible for the management and oversight of One Financial Centre Real Estate Holdings, and serves on the Boards of Hastings Holding Company, Moon Distributors, and Arkansas Bolt Company.

Owen serves as Past-Chairman of the Baptist Health Hospital Foundation Board, as well as on Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum Foundation Board, Fifty for the Future Board, Arkansas State Fair Association, and the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce Board. She is also a member of the International Women’s Forum and was named one of American Banker’s 2022 Most Powerful Women in Banking to Watch. In 2023, Owen was inducted into the Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame.

Arkansas Business named Owen a 2023 Contemporary Legend, after she had been named one of Arkansas’ Most Influential Leaders for several years, which retired from consideration for this ongoing recognition. Owen was named a 2022 & 2023 Arkansas Money & Politics Powerful Woman in Banking, 2022 & 2024 Girl Scout CEO Honoree, and the 2019 Sandra Wilson Cherry Award Recipient in recognition of female leadership and exemplary community service. In 2019, she was Knighted into the Knights of Saint Martin, in Rome, Italy, a knighthood sanctioned by the Pope, in recognition of and focused on promoting equality and service to those less fortunate.

Owen earned her BSBA in Finance and Banking from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and her Graduate Banking Degree from the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking, at Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX. She is also honored to be a National Security Forum Air War College Alumnae, Montgomery, Alabama.