Forty Under 40: Tim McClung

Growing up, Tim McClung’s parents always had him cleaning out a rent house or hauling hay. That, and Eureka Springs’ cultural melting pot, instilled the work ethic and adaptability that he said made him successful.

A banjo picker and fisherman, McClung said the late King Gladden inspired him to try banking in 1994.

McClung and his wife started Mr. Big’s Burgers in downtown Eureka Springs while he was still in college. He juggled 15 hours per semester, 30 hours of work at the bank, helping serve 400 burgers per day and taking care of a new baby.

McClung graduated in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Arkansas and later from the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking. He moved to Rogers where he became a special assets assistant handling bankruptcies, foreclosures and repossessions at Arvest.

In 1997, he was promoted to loan officer before following Gladden to Eureka Springs for a startup. McClung rejoined Arvest Bank-Rogers in 2000 as a commercial lender.

McClung, 32, is chairing this year’s Frisco Festival and he’s also active with Kiwanis and the Boys and Girls Club of Benton County.