Arvest Bank promotes Bret Jones to Pea Ridge president

Fayetteville-chartered Arvest Bank announced Tuesday (Dec. 9) that Bret Jones, commercial loan officer for Benton County, has been promoted to community bank president in Pea Ridge.

Jones replaces Jeff Neil, who was promoted to commercial loan manager in Siloam Springs.

In his new role, Jones will lead community banking activities to help grow the bank’s deposits and loans. Before joining Arvest Bank in 2021, he worked in roles at multiple financial institutions handling sales, business development and analytical financial reporting.

“We’re thrilled to have Bret step into this role,” said Mike Willard, executive vice president and regional director of community banks. “He brings a genuine passion for serving and building strong relationships that will foster continued growth in Pea Ridge. Bret has served Arvest in several capacities, most recently as a business banker, where his leadership in production has been instrumental to Arvest in Benton County.”

Jones graduated from Fayetteville High School in 1987 and completed a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Arkansas in 1991. He graduated from the ABA Commercial Lending School at Southern Methodist University in 2023.

According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., Arvest Bank had total assets of $27.34 billion as of Sept. 30.