Middleton joins Arvest Bank board of directors

Arvest Bank recently announced that Mark Middleton has joined the bank's board of directors that serves central, northeast and southwest Arkansas.

Middleton is among 11 board members who advise, support and serve as liaisons for the bank, while leveraging relationships with area business leaders. He will serve a five-year term on the board, a news release said.

Middleton is president of CommerceCorp International, a boutique international merchant banking firm. He also is the managing partner of MidCorp Investments and a principal in Middleton, Inc., a diversified family holding company.

His community involvement includes leadership roles in numerous nonprofit organizations. Middleton currently serves as a board member of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Foundation Fund and the St. Vincent Hospital Foundation. He also is a member of Fifty for the Future.

"Mark's extensive experience and connections on the local and national levels will be an asset for us as we work to drive innovation and change for the benefit of our customers," Jim Cargill, president and CEO of Arvest Bank in central, northeast and southwest Arkansas, said in the release.

"I appreciate the fact that Mark has always stayed true to his home state and is committed to being a conduit to its continued success."

In 2017, Middleton was an inaugural member of Arvest's Saline County Advisory Board where he also supported the bank through professional and community involvement.

"Arvest is consistently recognized nationally for its achievements across multiple service lines, and for the bank's excellent customer service. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the success of this Arkansas-based company, as we work with businesses and communities to identify how we can better meet and serve their needs," Middleton said.

Middleton holds a BSBA in finance and banking from the University of Arkansas. As a Rotary International Fellow, he completed postgraduate studies at the London School of Economics. He also earned his juris doctorate from the University of Arkansas School of Law where he was a member of the Law Review.

After practicing law with the Little Rock firm Mitchell, Williams, Selig and Tucker, Middleton served as the finance director for the Clinton for President campaign. He then was appointed special assistant to former President Bill Clinton and Deputy to White House Chief of Staff Mack McLarty. Following his government service, Middleton held integral roles in the founding of the Clinton Presidential Library and the Clinton Birthplace Foundation.

Middleton and his wife, Rhea Black Middleton, have two daughters and are members of St. James United Methodist Church.

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