Forty Under 40: Jim Singleton

A native of Gravette, Jim Singleton knows farming. And after nearly 18 years in banking, he knows a little bit about that, too.

Singleton’s combined talents are why Arvest Bank Group Inc. hired him in May to be president of Arvest First Gravette Bank. The bank’s portfolio contains serious cattle and poultry interests, and Singleton’s 17 years with Farm Credit Services of Western Arkansas was perfect training.

He spent 16 of those years serving as FCS’ senior loan officer in Bentonville and was often recognized for sales accomplishments. While at FCS, Singleton increased his loan portfolio more than 400 percent.

Singleton, 39, got a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from the University of Arkansas in 1985. FCS recruited him after college and taught him agri finance.

“Farmers don’t want someone behind a desk who doesn’t understand how their business operates,” Singleton said.

In his third term as president of the Benton County Farm Bureau, Singleton has served on the Farm Bureau board for 13 years. He has lobbied for farmers’ concerns in Little Rock and Washington, D.C., and helped Benton County win Outstanding County in 1999 and 2000 from the Arkansas Farm Bureau Association.