The Board of Directors of Little Rock-based Bank of the Ozarks, Inc. has approved a regular quarterly cash dividend of 17 cents per common share payable April 19, 2013, to shareholders of record as of April 12, 2013.
The announced dividend represents an increase two cents per share over the dividend paid in the previous quarter.
Bank of the Ozarks has increased its quarterly dividend in 13 of the last 14 quarters, including the past 11 consecutive quarters.
Bank of the Ozarks reported fourth quarter net income of $20.7 million, a 17.6% increase from one year ago.
For the year ended Dec. 31, 2012, net income totaled $77 million, a 24% decrease from $101.3 million for the year ended Dec. 31, 2011.
During 2011, Little Rock-based Bank of the Ozarks acquired three out-of-state banks in FDIC-assisted deals. The bank holding company added another non-FDIC acquisition in late 2012.
The bank’s shares (NASDAQ: OZRK) were trading at $44.38 in early Monday afternoon (April 1) trading. During the past 52 weeks, the share price has ranged from a $44.73 high to a $27.83 low.