Forty Under 40: Alexandria Gladden

Alexandria Gladden joined Signature Bank of Arkansas in 2005 as a part-time teller after growing up watching her family work in banking.

Her father, Gary Head, is president and CEO of Fayetteville-based White River Bancshares Co., the bank’s holding company. Her uncle also is a banker.

“It was the family connection that got me involved in that entry-level banking job, but I immediately recognized the potential for moving up through the various positions the bank had to offer while serving in a role that directly impacted the community,” Gladden said. “It was a win-win situation.”

The Fayetteville native joined the bank full time as a private banker/lender after graduating from the University of Arkansas in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in finance with a banking concentration.

In 2010, Gladden was named senior vice president and loan manager for the bank’s Springdale market. In 2019, the company promoted Gladden to her existing position.

She manages the lending and retail teams in Springdale, a personal loan portfolio of customers she’s served since she became a lender, and directs the entire portfolio of the Springdale market. She oversees 14 employees.

A career highlight has been improving the loan-to-deposit ratio to 100%. Over the next three to five years, Gladden’s goal is to double the Springdale team’s portfolio.

Before joining the bank, Gladden worked for Hallmark, where she learned customer service skills.

She actively supports multiple area organizations and has raised hundreds of thousands for Northwest Arkansas charities. She’s a Northwest Arkansas board member for Make-A-Wish Foundation of Mid-South, a Fayetteville Junior Civic League member and a Springdale Chamber of Commerce board member.