Forty Under 40: Rosie Castillo

Rosie Castillo has enjoyed an upwardly mobile career with Arvest for a decade.

She’s held her existing job for the past three years, leveraging her well-rounded financial knowledge to help customers reach their goal of home ownership.

“I honestly have the best job: to get paid to be part of that milestone in people’s lives,” she said.

Fluent in English and Spanish, Castillo grew up in a small town in Mexico near the El Paso border. The family moved frequently — to and from the U.S. — due to her father’s struggles with alcoholism.

“It was a rough childhood and everything that comes with it,” she recalled. “But they are all experiences that helped shape me. I always look for the bright side.”

Castillo moved to Clarksville in 2000 when she was 11 and to Fayetteville a year later, where she graduated high school in 2006 with high honors.

Without a college degree, Castillo knew she wanted a career in finance when she applied with Arvest. She began as a financial sales representative in January 2013 and moved to commercial and mortgage lending, first as an assistant, then as a junior mortgage lender.

She assists customers with their search for financing and offers advice on products for residential mortgage loans.

Castillo was Arvest’s top mortgage loan producer in Springdale in 2022. Twice (2019, 2022), she has been recognized with the company’s award for the loan officer with the most referrals.

As a Hispanic woman, Castillo finds opportunities in multiple community organizations to share her experiences and knowledge and offer guidance.

“When we came to the U.S., this community welcomed me with open arms,” she said. “It’s my turn to give back.”