Arshia Khan

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Jenny Riggles
Consumer Loan Officer, Farmers and Merchants Bank
Age: 28 | Hometown: Greenland | Alma Mater: Arkansas Tech University

Jenny Riggles got into Arkansas Tech University on an athletics scholarship but quickly realized this scholarship didn’t pay the bills. Eventually, Jenny lost her scholarship and had to find a new way to pay for her education – and began working at Farmers and Merchants Bank. She started as a bank teller, but once she realized how helpful she could be to her community through this job, she fell in love with the industry and began working full-time. 

“It’s easy to love your job when you love the people you work with,” Jenny said. “Outside of the team of people I work alongside, I would say the community engagement is my favorite part. I am very fortunate to have opportunities in my job that allow me to volunteer in the community, which I hold very close to my heart.”

A common misconception Jenny hears about careers in banking is you need to be good at math. Luckily, that’s not the case. She shared that although it would be nice to understand how to use a calculator, it’s not a necessary skill to be successful in banking. Jenny does share that a necessary skill to master is people skills. 

“Banks can be pretty scary for people, so much so that it deters them from ever stepping inside of one,” Jenny said. “Once I understood that, I began taking extra strides to make customers feel comfortable—whether at the teller line to cash a check or at my desk applying for a loan.”

Let's Talk Money

First bank account?
“I had just graduated high school and was heading to college on a basketball scholarship. My parents didn’t have the means to financially support the Walmart trips I was (irresponsibly) making. My sister opened a joint account with me so she could transfer some money to me when I needed it!”

Best money decision?
“Keeping my savings account separate from my everyday accounts and not having an ATM card attached to it.”

Worst money mistake people make?
“Not understanding how to use a credit card is probably my go-to, because it’s truly a lesson that you might not understand until you learn it first-hand.”

Go-to advice?
“Online banking is king, but it is so important to have a personal banker you can contact. Know your bank, their fees, and who you can call if you need help.”