Exhibit A [Executive Severance and Change In Control Agreement Attached]

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Your annual base salary will be $300,000, which will be paid in monthly installments on the last business day of each month of employment in the amount of $25,000.00

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A target cash bonus of 60% of your base salary for 2017 with a maximum attainment level of 150% of the bonus target, depending upon actual performance relative to goals determined by the Executive Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Committee”). This bonus will be prorated from your start date for the remainder of 2017;

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STIP (short term incentive plan) – An equity grant of restricted shares of the Company’s common stock equal to up to 30% (with a target of 18%) of your prorated base salary for 2017. The restricted shares awarded will be at target and based upon your prorated annualized base salary and the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the award date, with the opportunity for additional restricted shares to be earned up to maximum. Vesting of this award depends upon performance relative to goals established by the Committee, and is subject to additional time vesting. The Committee will determine whether such performance goals have been achieved in early 2018 following receipt of the Company’s fiscal year 2017 audited financial results, at which time some or all of the restrictive shares may be forfeited if the performance goals are partially achieved or not achieved, or additional restricted shares may be granted if the performance goals are achieved above the target level. The non-forfeited restricted shares will then vest 25% per annum, subject to continued employment and certain other forfeiture provisions. For example, if the Committee determines on January 31, 2018 that the performance goals for 2017 have been achieved at the target level, none of the restricted shares granted would be forfeited, 25% of the restricted shares will vest on the first anniversary of your start date, and the remaining restricted shares will vest in annual installments of 25% each, commencing January 31, 2019.

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With respect to the STIP award, upon the occurrence of a Payment Trigger described in subparagraph (ii) of Paragraph (L) of Section 1 of Exhibit A hereto, (i) if the Payment Trigger occurs prior to the date results are certified, then 75% of the target amount will vest on the Payment Trigger and the remainder will be automatically forfeited, and (ii) if the Payment Trigger occurs after the date results are certified, any unvested (and non-forfeited) portion will immediately vest in full on the Payment Trigger.

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LTIP (long term incentive plan) – You will be eligible to participate in the Company’s LTIP plan, whereby you will be eligible to receive a performance based equity grant or an equivalently valued award settled in cash, as determined by the Company, equivalent to a target amount of 60% of your base salary, up to a maximum grant equivalent to 100% of your base salary, based upon the attainment of certain Company objectives during the applicable performance period, as prescribed and approved by the Committee. Such grant will be based upon the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the award date. Full details related to any said grant, including but not limited to specific Company objectives, vesting criteria, and the duration of the performance period will be more fully described in the award agreement relating to such grant.

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With respect to the LTIP award, you will have the same vesting as other senior executives upon the occurrence of such Payment Trigger.

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You will receive a cash bonus of $250,000, payable in two (2) equal installments - $125,000 of which will be payable promptly following your start date and the remaining $125,000 of said bonus will be payable on October 31, 2017, provided you and your family have established full time residency and completed your permanent relocation to the Van Buren/Fort Smith, Arkansas, area and you are continuously employed by the Company through October 31, 2017. Notwithstanding the foregoing, failure to complete your and your family’s permanent relocation to the Van Buren/Fort Smith, Arkansas area on or before October 31, 2017, or your failure to be continuously employed by the Company through such date will result in complete forfeiture of your rights to both installments of this bonus and will require an immediate repayment in full of the initial installment. Additionally, this bonus is contingent on continuous full time employment with the Company for at least 24 months following your start date. If your employment is terminated by the Company with Cause, or voluntarily by you, at any time after October 31, 2017 and prior to the expiration of 24 months from your start date, you shall repay the $250,000 cash bonus on a pro-rated basis in relation to the portion of such 24 month period during which you are actually employed by the Company.

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You will receive an additional bonus of $100,000, payable as either an equity grant equivalent to $100,000 worth of restricted shares based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on your start date with the Company, or as cash as calculated below, as determined by the Company. If paid in cash, such cash payments will be made in two (2) installments on the following dates, subject to your continuous employment with the Company through each date: (1) first anniversary of your start date with the Company; (2) second anniversary of your start date with the Company, with the amount of cash to be paid on each date calculated by converting $50,000 to shares of USAK stock based on the closing price of the USAK stock on your start date with the Company (rounded consistent with Company practice), and paying the cash equivalent of that share amount, based on the trading price of USAK stock on the payment date. For example, if the closing price of USAK the day prior to your start date is $7.50 the converted share amount would be 6,666 based upon the Company's rounding practice. If the USAK stock price in your first anniversary date is $10.00, you would receive a cash bonus payment of $66,660 ($10.00 per share x 6,666 shares). The same calculation would apply on your second anniversary (adjusted for the share price at that time). If paid in equity, any restricted shares granted will vest in two (2) equal annual installments with the first installment vesting on the first anniversary of your start date with the Company and the second installment vesting on the second anniversary of your start date with the Company, subject to your continuous employment with the Company as of each vesting date.

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Your position with the Company requires that you establish full-time residency in the Van Buren/Ft. Smith, Arkansas, area for you and your family. To assist with your interim residency and timely relocation, you will receive a reimbursement allowance for reasonable transitional housing expenses, including meals and travel expenses (flights or mileage) and temporary housing for rental property through July 31, 2017. The aforementioned expense reimbursement allowance related to flights will include one basic coach-class airfare ticket paid for by the Company every two (2) weeks until July 31, 2017. Any mileage reimbursement(s) will be at the Company’s standard rate(s), in accordance with its standard reimbursement policies.

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The Company will also pay you the net amount for 90 days of COBRA coverage to assist you in continual coverage of your current healthcare plan during the mandatory waiting period.

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All payments provided for hereunder will be subject to required withholding of federal, state and local income, excise, and employment-related taxes.

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You will receive four (4) weeks paid vacation per year.

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You are eligible for, and may participate in, the Company's 401(k) Plan subject to Company policies and the terms of that plan as in effect from time to time.

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You are eligible for, and may participate in, the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan subject to Company policies and the terms of that plan as in effect from time to time.

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The Company is currently a sponsor of the Arkansas Best Federal Credit Union and you may be eligible to participate in programs made available to the Company's employees.

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You are eligible for, and may participate in, the Company's Medical, Dental and Vision and Prescription Drug plans subject to Company policies and the terms of those plans as in effect from time to time.

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You will receive $1,000 per year to be applied towards premium payments on a supplemental term life insurance or you may choose to receive it as wages in your monthly payroll check (at the rate of $83.33 per month).

Agreed and Accepted

/s/ Jason R. Bates                                                

Jason R. Bates