Arkansas Companies Named to ‘Best Places to Work in Fintech’ List for Third Consecutive Year

Two Arkansas fintech companies have been named among the best financial technology companies to work for in 2023.

Industry publication American Banker named Smiley Technologies of Little Rock and Teslar Software of Springdale to its 2023 “Best Places to Work in Fintech” list. The annual list ranks the top 50 companies to work for in the financial technology sector.

This is the third consecutive year that both Smiley Technologies and Teslar Software have made American Banker’s list.

Founded in 2002, Smiley Technologies is a core banking software that focuses on modernizing core banking to use data more efficiently.

Smiley Technologies was selected for American Banker’s list due to its “people-first culture.” According to the American Banker profile, Smiley Technologies focuses on ensuring that both its employees and partners feel respected. “We can't wait for what the future holds, but we know this, we will continue to make this a place where employees and partners feel respected, valued and cared for,” the company said in a statement.

Teslar Software is a company designed to save bankers time by streamlining their processes, integrating all systems in one easy-to-use interface. According to Teslar’s website, the company provides a 14-percent higher efficiency rate compared to its peers.

Teslar was chosen by American Banker because of its excellent work environment and policies that ensure healthy work-life balance by requiring workers to take at least 15 days of paid time off each year.

To be named to American Banker’s “Best Places to Work in Fintech” list, companies were required to go through a two-step process. The first assessment was a questionnaire for the employer, and the second assessment was one of employees’ satisfaction and engagement based on eight core areas including leadership and work environment.

Both Smiley and Teslar have received numerous accolades, in addition to being named to multiple American Banker lists. Teslar was named one of the top fintech companies by BankDirector in 2022, as well as winning the best fintech partnership in the 2020 Finovate Awards. Smiley Technologies was named as one of Arkansas Money & Politics’ most admired Arkansas companies, as well as being named a Forbes “Small Giant” in 2020.

Dating back to the founding of Systematics in 1968, Arkansas has been a hot spot for the financial technology sector. Systematics has since evolved into FIS Global, the world’s largest fintech company.

Today, Arkansas has a wide range of financial companies operating in the state. In addition, organizations like The Venture Center support the growth of fintech companies through programs like the FIS Fintech Accelerator. Programs like the FIS Accelerator are incubating some of the most promising fintech companies from around the world.

Arkansas companies like Smiley Technologies and Teslar Software are continuing the tradition begun by Systematics in the 1960s by innovating and advancing financial technology – making The Natural State a global leader in the fintech industry.