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This Day in Arkansas History

March 23, 1984

Simmons First National Bank in Pine Bluff (Jefferson County) made banking history when a Simmons customer withdrew $285 from an automatic teller machine (ATM) in Sydney, Australia, in the world’s first intercontinental transaction made via an ATM. The bank, which was opened in 1903 by Dr. John Franklin Simmons, had (by 2007) paid dividends for ninety-nine consecutive years. The bank was the first in Arkansas to offer its customers the Bank of America credit card (now known as VISA) and has assets of over $2.7 billion.

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Union County Courthouse

The Union County Courthouse, located in El Dorado, was constructed in 1927–28, combining the popular Colonial Revival and Classical styles of architecture. An attractive feature of the building shown here is the large number of Greek Ionic columns that surround the structure. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

 

The Union County Courthouse, located in El Dorado, was constructed in 1927–28, combining the popular Colonial Revival and Classical styles of architecture. An attractive feature of the building shown here is the large number of Greek Ionic columns that surround the structure. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

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About the Encyclopedia

The CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas is a free, authoritative source of information about the rich history, geography, and culture of Arkansas. It is updated regularly to ensure the people of Arkansas have an accurate and accessible resource to explore our heritage. We invite you to browse our text entries and media galleries to learn more about the people, places, events, legends, and lore of the 25th state. We are continually adding new entries, photographs, maps, videos, and audio files, so check back frequently to see what’s new.

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