Forty Under 40: Jewel W. Bray

The daughter of an accomplished ironworker, Jewel Bray had a full-ride scholarship to pursue a career in metal lathing and welding. But on a lark she took a job with Farmers and Merchants Bank instead.

That was 19 years ago and Bray’s certain she made the right choice.

With Farmers, Bray eventually became the credit administration officer, making sure loans fit the bank’s strict credit regulations.

She joined Sinclair National Bank in 1998 and in 2001, Sinclair sold the office where Bray worked to Delta Trust & Bank. She stayed on with the new ownership and was named assistant vice president and branch manager soon thereafter. She is also the bank’s commercial loan officer and she oversees the bank’s Gravette office.

As of June 30, 2006, the offices had combined deposits of $24.3 million, and Bray said she’s been able to exceed Delta’s five-year goal, garnering a 30 percent growth rate in assets at the Bella Vista location.

Her immediate goals are to keep the bank’s profits growing and help Delta with a possible expansion south of the Bella Vista/Gravette areas.

Bray still likes to roll up her sleeve to build and has earned the nickname “MacGyver” around the office and at home, she said.