In Conversation with Bank Leadership
ROBERT SARVER
Let's begin by saying 2017 was another really good year for the bank. And one of the things I felt most proud about was our ability to keep growing and keep providing our customers with the resources they need to continue to grow their businesses.
KENNETH VECCHIONE
We take care of our people first, our people take care of our customers. Those two things together help deliver superior performance. Lastly, we give back to the communities where we live and work.
DALE GIBBONS
I think it starts with ownership of the client experience by the people who work for this company. What makes us stand out is our entrepreneurial spirit. We're almost unique in our ability to grow without creating siloes.
JIM HAUGHT
It's also the lifecycle approach we take with our customers. From the time they are prospects, through the lending process, to onboarding and then the care we put into ongoing customer relationships. And, right from the start, we are stewards of our customers' information. So a priority for us is investing in information security.
ROBERT SARVER
You know we've always felt reinvesting our money into our company is the best thing for us to do. In turn we can reinvest that money into our customers and grow with our customers.
KENNETH VECCHIONE
I agree with you. Our capital growth supports our customer growth. And being there for our customers when they need credit supports our growth. That's been our model since we started the company. I also think we come into this year with a lot of wind at our back – the economy is growing and the recent tax reform legislation should help the economy to expand even further.
DALE GIBBONS
It's going to add a lot of liquidity to the economy, both in terms of lower tax rates and what's been passed on through. We've passed part of this on to our team, giving raises, increasing our 401(k) and returning the benefits.
ROBERT SARVER
When it comes to attracting and retaining the best people, I think people also want to know, "can I take care of my customers?" We offer them the best of both worlds, the best of what a smaller bank can offer in terms of level of service, family environment, responsiveness, and the best of what a larger bank can offer. This means resources, capital, larger loan limits and a larger array of products, so bankers can make their customers happy.
JIM HAUGHT
When we're out recruiting people, one of the things that gets them very excited about working here is that entrepreneurial concept. Every day you're coming in and there are new things being crafted, new ideas being tried out, we're always pushing that innovation sphere every single day. And for banking that's pretty unusual.
DALE GIBBONS
Making a difference in our communities is a real value for employees. One area where we've had significant impact is affordable housing. Our bank has helped finance developments in over 40 states, and some hundred thousand people are now living in homes that we helped facilitate.
KENNETH VECCHIONE
Ultimately, people also want to work with an organization that values transparency, credibility, and honesty. Our leadership team is always honest with each other, we're transparent in what we do and that helps us build a better company.