The Treasurer's Office
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About the Office
The Office of Treasurer of State of Arkansas was established by the Constitution of 1836 with the Treasurer being selected by a joint vote of both houses of the General Assembly. Each Constitution since that time has provided for a Treasurer of State. The Constitutions of 1836 and 1861 called for selection by the General Assembly, while the Constitutions of 1864, 1868, and 1874 required selection by vote of the Arkansas electorate.
The first person selected Treasurer of State by the General Assembly was better known for having established the first newspaper in Arkansas. William E. Woodruff, founder of the Arkansas Gazette, served as Treasurer of State from 1836 through 1838. State Treasurer Thomas J. Churchill went on to serve as Governor of Arkansas.
The Treasurer of State serves as the State’s banker and is responsible for an investment portfolio of approximately $3 billion. Every day our office accepts deposits, reconciles accounts, prepare statements and answers customers’ questions. As the bank for the State, the office provides the same services as private banks.
On average, the office accepts more than $70 million daily in deposits from various local, state and federal sources, and credits them to the proper accounts. These deposits are made up of electronic funds transfers, checks and cash. Approximately 5,000 checks are processed through the Receiving department and we reconcile over 8,700 accounts daily, representing the funds of nearly 200 state agencies, boards and commissions.
The image is of the inside of the vault door. It is both art and machine. This is the inside of the Treasury vault door, weighing in at 22,000 pounds and built between 1910 and 1912. It was shipped by train to Litte Rock from the Mosler Safe Company in Hamilton, Ohio. To transfer the door from the train station to its current location in the Capitol, a rail spur line was built into the building through a second story window.
The vault lock is controlled by a timing mechanism built by a Swiss clock maker. This is an entirely mechanical device and cannot be hacked. The vault door is not controlled by or connected to any Internet controlled device.
In addition to the magnificent Capitol building, the door and the vault itself are two of the most interesting features for all visitors who come for a tour. Individuals and small groups are welcome anytime. For large groups, it may save you some time to schedule a date and time to avoid waiting for other visitors to finish their tour. Please use the contact form to schedule your visit.