Organized in May of 1886, Citizens Bank is the oldest incorporated bank in Crawford County and one of the oldest in the State of Arkansas. Founded by an attorney named B.J. Brown The Board of Directors of Vista Bancorporation, the one bank holding company of Citizens Bank & Trust Company, in 1994 announced their agreement to merge with First Bank Corporation of Fort Smith, a bank holding company whose members include First National Bank of Fort Smith and National Bank of Sallisaw in Sallisaw, Oklahoma.