A huge thank you to all of the outstanding bankers and vendors!
Our growth is solely due to your commitment to excel in your careers with superior achievements in technology and banking.
Harper McNeil was founded in 1995. Our vision remains to provide superior insight for client financial institutions as they select and integrate the best technology to meet their operational needs. Whether our clients are looking for core solutions, or any type of ancillary software, we are here to provide our expertise and knowledge throughout the entire process.
We invite you to read more about our team below, and explore the education, experience, and skills we bring to each and every client service.
Denise McNeil
President
Denise has worked with many financial institutions and learned from their custom approaches to technology design, giving her an incredible proficiency in the subject. This experience reflects the depth of knowledge needed to push forward a workable decision with each engagement. During 2022, Denise was elected to the board of directors at Bank of Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, NC.
Financial institutions are challenged with finding value in their purchase of products and services. It has always been our driven goal to make that process easier and increase comprehension. Therefore, since our company’s inception in 1995, the Harper McNeil team have developed innovative methods for the process of system search and conversion.
Denise graduated from Appalachian State University with a BSBA in Accounting in 1988. Within weeks, she began a career as a community bank internal auditor. It was a unique opportunity to train in every department in the bank before moving forward in an audit. During this time as an internal auditor, she worked with management to select and secure a new core system, and proceeded through the conversion.
Harper McNeil has worked with hundreds of financial institutions over the years. The uniqueness of our company dynamics is that we understand banking in depth. Therefore, we can work with each financial institution to help them promote their company through technology. The technology vendors appreciate this talent as well. Many times, we are there to assist with assuring there is complete understanding between the financial institution and the vendor. Everyone in our company has spent the beginning of their career in a financial institution operations area.
Denise and her family are members of First Baptist Church. Now that her children are grown, there is a little more time to devote to personal interests like outdoor activities and travel. Denise enjoys being active in financial institution FinTech. She also promotes the Entrepreneur program at Appalachian State University through teaching and programs. While at Harper McNeil, the independent banking groups have been priority events to attend, and occasionally she will write material and speak at their conferences.
Lisa Armbrister
Vice President – Support Services
Technology additions over the past few years have infiltrated the financial industry’s focus in order to provide needed services to customers. Lisa has been in the inner circle of operations for her entire career, alongside bankers and vendors’ analysts. She interprets software applications and applies banking knowledge to drive complete and full usage of each purchase. This knowledge is then relayed to the entire company at Harper McNeil, which in turn gives a financial institution more power in understanding what is being considered in a new technology contract.
Lisa joined Harper McNeil in January of 2001. With a total of 40+ years of banking and systems experience, Lisa specializes in deposit and finance applications in a variety of technology systems, working with more than three dozen different core systems to date. Her expertise extends to other aspects of banking, including customer facing areas such as teller and new account opening, and areas related to electronic banking. Her broad project management skills and attention to detail make her a valuable asset to Harper McNeil.
Before joining Harper McNeil, Lisa worked with banks in Virginia and Ohio in various positions from Teller and Deposit Operations to IT Support for Loan Operations and Finance. The depth and breadth of Lisa’s experiences in banking and consulting have provided her with the skills and know-how to effectively guide clients through the accurate and timely conversion of their core processing systems for deposit and finance applications as well as ancillary systems related to those areas. In addition to her work with core conversions, Lisa also assists community banks in improving their efficiency and effectiveness with thorough analyses of their Deposit Operations and General Ledger functions, including financial chart of account restructuring and General Ledger conversions not related to a core conversion.
Lisa completed her undergraduate studies at Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina, earning a BSBA in Business Management with a Computer Science concentration. She resides in Wytheville, Virginia, with her husband and two sons, where she is a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church. Lisa has volunteered in numerous capacities over the past 40 years in the churches she’s attended, has been involved in the Parent Teacher Organizations of her children’s schools, and has supported various civic organizations. She enjoys gardening, reading, traveling, and following the activities of her sons.
Kim Cooke
Director of Services
Operations and technology proficiency in banking are crucial to a successful business technology plan. In-depth knowledge of the vendors that provide the technology is important to the success of any technology plan.
Kim joined Harper McNeil in April of 2023. With a total of 30+ years of banking and systems experience. She brings excellent bank operations and vendor knowledge regarding financial institution technology
Before joining Harper McNeil, Kim worked with community banks and regional banks in various positions ranging from Loan Operations Manager, Bank Operations Manager, Chief Information Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, and Chief Compliance & Operations Officer.
In these various roles, Kim gained valuable experience in Deposit & Loan Operations, Lending &, Deposit Platforms, Card Services/ATMs, Online & Mobile Banking, Cash Management Services, Compliance, Information Security, Information Technology and Operational Risk. She has coordinated the integration and systems conversions for various bank acquisitions and core system conversions.
Kim completed her Masters of Business Administration and Bachelor of Business Administration from Gardner Webb University. She resides in Lincolnton, North Carolina with her husband and daughter. Kim has volunteered in various capacities with her daughter’s school and has supported various civic organizations. She and her daughter are members of the Helping Animals To Survive (HATS) organization and enjoy volunteering with dog adoption events. Kim enjoys the companionship of her dogs, spending time at the beach, reading, traveling with family and friends, and following the activities of her daughter.
Alex Hoffman
Senior Support Services
Technology is a critical tool for financial institutions. When led by a business plan and involving the right partners, FIs of any size can reach their goals and grow their business.
Alex joined Harper McNeil Inc. in May 2025. With over 25 years of banking and technology management experience, Alex’s background includes IT project management, core system optimization and integration, and process improvements. His expertise in banking started in Retail as a teller, which led to managing Information Technology, Deposit Operations, Security, Vendor Management, Business Continuity Planning, and Facilities.
Before joining Harper McNeil, Alex worked for Community Banks in various positions, including Chief Information Officer, Information Security Officer, IT Manager, Deposit Operations Manager, Item Processing Manager, and Facilities Manager.
Alex organized many projects in these positions, including core and third-party system conversions and integrations, bank expansion, and mergers and acquisitions. He applied his experience with core and customer-facing systems to identify gaps and implement process improvements that enhanced the associate and customer experience while increasing system value.
Alex received his bachelor’s degree in Information Technology and IT Project Management from Strayer University. He also attended the Virginia Bankers Association School of Bank Management and Executive Leadership Institute and served on the VBA Technology and Operations committee for five years. He resides in eastern North Carolina with his wife and two doodles. He enjoys spending time in the Outer Banks and cruising the Caribbean with friends and family. His hobbies include overcomplicating the home Wi-Fi with enterprise-grade services and projects around the house.
Jason Lackey
Support and Administrative Services
Banking operations in its entirety is an extensive combination of internal systems that provide seamless and cohesive applications throughout a bank’s organization.
Jason joined Harper McNeil Inc. in October 2025. With over 11 years of banking and insurance experience, Jason’s background includes banking sales and service, and AML/BSA investigations for PNC Bank along with insurance claims, and insurance sales for an independent broker. His expertise in banking started in Retail as a universal banker, which led to the opportunity to move into Anti-Money Laundering analysis and investigations.
Jason has been involved in many projects while working as both an analyst and in investigation for the BSA/AML program. Jason was a part of a team that created and implemented innovative improvements used throughout the AML department. Upon his recognition and selection by management, Jason took part in projects directly associated with Law Enforcement document requests and PNC Special Investigations Unit’s reviewing of concerning high dollar cash deposit activity.
Jason received his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He resides in the Charlotte, North Carolina region with his wife and three children. He enjoys spending time exploring, hiking, and camping in his native North Carolina mountains. Recently, he has found a love for running and challenging himself to run mountain races after discovering ultra marathons. His hobbies include staying physically fit, pushing himself to grow in personal endeavors, and finding new ways to enjoy time with his family.
Zebeth Fowler
Support Services
Successful banking conversions and technology initiatives require careful planning, effective communication, and a strong understanding of bank operations. Zebeth brings a unique combination of banking expertise, project leadership, and operational knowledge that helps financial institutions navigate mergers, acquisitions, conversions, and technology implementations with confidence.
Zebeth joined Harper McNeil in October 2026. With more than 20 years of banking experience, including over 15 years leading complex conversion and technology initiatives, she specializes in mergers and acquisitions, operational readiness, core and ancillary system conversions, enterprise technology implementations, and project management. Before joining Harper McNeil, Zebeth served community banks throughout North and South Carolina in roles ranging from Teller and Commercial Loan Assistant to Accountant, Loan Review Officer, and Project Manager. Her diverse background provides a practical understanding of the operational, financial, and technology challenges financial institutions face during periods of growth and change.
Throughout her career, Zebeth has managed numerous bank acquisition integrations and system conversions, including FDIC-assisted acquisitions and branch purchases. Her experience across banking operations, lending, finance, and technology, combined with her expertise in accounting, commercial lending, and project management, provides a well-rounded perspective on the complexities of financial institution operations and regulatory requirements.
Zebeth earned a Bachelor of Science in Business from the University of South Carolina, with concentrations in Finance and Real Estate, and a Master of Business Administration from Coastal Carolina University.
She resides in Little River, South Carolina, with her husband and cat. An active member of Oak Dale Baptist Church, Zebeth serves as a pianist and sings with a local choir. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, traveling, and experiencing history firsthand through visits to historic landmarks and communities.
