Forty Under 40: Adam Rutledge, 29

Adam Rutledge said his current goal is to get more involved in the community and help position First Security to be a success for generations to come.
Long-range generational talk comes natural to the Searcy native. He’s the son of First Security Bancorp’s CEO and owner, and himself a proud new father.
Rutledge started with the bank as a frontline teller, working his way through management training in various roles at the bank.
Now a vice president of commercial lending, Rutledge said his job is mostly about managing relationships. That attitude has meant his portfolio has swelled to eight figures.
“He’s extremely driven,” said Jim Taylor, Northwest Arkansas president of FSB. “He’s a people person and a great ambassador for the bank.”
A 2004 University of Arkansas graduate with an emphasis in real estate and finance, Rutledge said he never seriously considered a career outside of financial services.
He’s been talking about banking with his father since he was young, but in recent years the conversations have matured, he said.
Rutledge is already deeply embedded in the community. He’s active with Life Source International, the Walton College of Business Alumni Society and the Fayetteville Country Club.
“If our customers are doing good,” Rutledge said, “we’re doing good.”