Forty Under 40: Greg Martin

Greg Martin was just out of college when he began with Arvest Bank-Fayetteville as a trainee in 2002. He hasn’t looked back.

Promoted within the company several times, the Fayetteville native has grown his loan portfolio from $15 million in 2004 to about $115 million at present.

He has also been the bank’s top overall producing commercial lender six times since 2005.

“He has an eye for making sound decisions; he’s a straight shooter,” said T.J. Lefler, a partner at Sage Partners commercial real estate office in Fayetteville.

Martin attributes his professional success to building a solid network, both internally and externally, and adhering to the company’s philosophy of building strong relationships.

“It’s the way we do business,” he said. “We’re more in an advisory role, rather than just somewhere to go and get money.”

A volunteer with the Meals on Wheels program in Fayetteville the last six years, Martin earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Arkansas in 2001.

Martin said his father, Kent Martin, manufacturing controller at Pinnacle Foods Group, has been a significant influence on his career.

Martin, an outdoorsman, also volunteered time with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Northwest Arkansas in the past.

Now married with three children all under the age of 5, he has since turned his focus toward home.