03-16836. Notice of Proposals to Engage in Permissible Nonbanking Activities or to Acquire Companies that are Engaged in Permissible Nonbanking Activities

The companies listed in this notice have given notice under section 4 of the Bank Holding Company Act (12 U.S.C. 1843) (BHC Act) and Regulation Y (12 CFR Part 225) to engage de novo, or to acquire or control voting securities or assets of a company, including the companies listed below, that engages either directly or through a subsidiary or other company, in a nonbanking activity that is listed in § 225.28 of Regulation Y (12 CFR 225.28) or that the Board has determined by Order to be closely related to banking and permissible for bank holding companies. Unless otherwise noted, these activities will be conducted throughout the United States.

Each notice is available for inspection at the Federal Reserve Bank indicated. The notice also will be available for inspection at the offices of the Board of Governors. Interested persons may express their views in writing on the question whether the proposal complies with the standards of section 4 of the BHC Act. Additional information on all bank holding companies may be obtained from the National Information Center website at www.ffiec.gov/​nic/​.

Unless otherwise noted, comments regarding the applications must be received at the Reserve Bank indicated or the offices of the Board of Governors not later than July 28, 2003.

A. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (Randall C. Sumner, Vice President) 411 Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63166-2034:

1. Arvest Bank Group, Inc., Bentonville, Arkansas; to acquire Superior Financial Corp., Little Rock, Arkansas, and thereby indirectly acquire Superior Bank, Fort Smith, Arkansas, and thereby engage in operating a savings association, pursuant to section 225.28(b)(4)(ii) of Regulation Y. Applicant also has applied to engage in operating a consumer finance company through Superior Finance Company, Fort Smith, Arkansas; in discount brokerage and investment advisory services through Superior Financial Services, Inc., Fort Smith, Arkansas; acting as a general insurance agency or broker to sell all lines of insurance or insurance related products in a town of less than 5,000 in population through Superior Insurance Service, Inc., Paris, Arkansas; and sell consumer credit life and disability insurance to consumer borrowers of the savings association through Southwest Protective Life Insurance Company, Fort Smith, Arkansas, pursuant to sections 225.28 (b)(1), (b)(7)(i), (b)(11)(i), and (b)(11)(iii)(A) of Regulation Y.

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, June 27, 2003.

Robert deV. Frierson,

Deputy Secretary of the Board.