Pub. 16 2019 Issue 2

Issue 2 • 2019 3 O V E R A C E N T U R Y : B U I L D I N G B E T T E R B A N K S - H E L P I N G N E W M E X I C O R E A L I Z E D R E A M S I am incredibly blessed and fortunate to be able to follow in my grandfather’s footsteps and continue the legacy that he created for over fifty years. smile and chuckle. At the end of the summer, my friend half-jokingly asked that I never offer him a job again! I think we both learned some valuable lessons from that experience. My first official job inside the bank came during the summer of my junior year in high school. I was given the op- portunity to do an internship where I was able to work in the Audit and Credit De - partments of Western Commerce Bank. In addition, I was able to travel with a Senior Vice President to attend loan committee meetings at Western Com- merce Bank, Western Bank of Clovis, Western Bank of Alamogordo and Bank of the Southwest. I was also given the opportunity to travel with JimMatteucci, Chairman of Bank of the Southwest, to visit some of his branches around New Mexico and attend loan meetings. Jim was even gracious enough to allow me to attend one of his board meetings. 2. What has been the best part of being in the banking business? Without a doubt, the best part about being a banker is helping people achieve their dreams and goals, whether it be customers or employees. It is a very gratifying feeling to help someone buy their first home, or their first car. I truly enjoy helping people start a business and watching over time as they become successful at doing exactly what they want to do with their life. Bankers can play a vital role in helping people achieve the American Dream. I also take pride in helping an employee see how prosperous and rewarding a career in banking can be and giving them the opportunity and tools they need to learn and grow to become successful. Another benefit to being a banker is that you are in a position to truly help the communities you serve. For the most part, community bankers are still re- spected in the community. As a banker, you can join any organization or attend nearly any meeting you want. You can be as involved in the community as you would like and you are in a position to truly make a difference. 3. What changes do you foresee in our industry and in New Mexi- co in the next several years? I think one of the biggest changes to the banking industry will be the continued consolidation of community banks. Overregulation and increased competition from non-bank competitors has taken a major toll on community banks. According to the FDIC, the amount of banks in the United States has decreased from 8,315 in 2000 to 4,918 in 2017. The Federal Reserve reported that 97% of the decrease was accounted for by community banks. Conversely, there were only eleven new bank charters issued between 2010 and 2018. Going forward, not only will we have to compete with credit unions that are now indistinguishable from banks, with the exception of paying taxes; but we will also be competing with the mega tech companies such as Apple, Goo - gle, Facebook and Amazon. These tech companies will not only be competing for loans, but deposits as well. Given the facts that technology has complete- ly changed the way most people bank, most millennials have never stepped foot in a bank, and many people today have forgotten the reasons for and im- portance of FDIC Insurance, these large tech companies pose a major threat to the future of the industry as a whole. 4. Who has had the greatest in- fluence on your career and why? Without question, my grandfather has had the greatest influence on my career. He has been teaching me about banking, finance, human nature, work-ethic and the importance of education and reading my entire life. Since I was a young child I can remember sitting and talking with him on a regular basis when he would get home from work. We would never talk about the weather or superficial topics, but rather we would talk about banking and real life lessons. While most grandfathers would take their grandkids hunting, fishing, or out for ice cream, mine was teaching me about banking. My grandfather has had a major influence on nearly every aspect of my life and there is no way I would be in the position I am today or have the opportunities I have been given if it were not for my grandfather. To give a very short snapshot of my grandfather’s background, he began as a high school dropout working in collec- tions for a small finance company to becoming president, CEO and chair- man of multiple banks, a state senator, and president of the Board of Regents at NMSU among many, many other accomplishments. At one point he was in charge of nine separate banks at the same time. When I received my Bach- elors Degree from NMSU, he was given an Honorary Doctorate Degree, gave the commencement speech at my gradua- tion and handed me my Diploma. That was a very proud moment for both of us. I am incredibly blessed and fortunate to be able to follow in my grandfather’s footsteps and continue the legacy that he created for over fifty years. Although my grandfather has had the greatest influence on my career and life in general, I have been very blessed to have many mentors throughout my life that have had an immeasurable influ - ence on me not only as a banker, but as a person. Mike Hoyl, Division President of Western Commerce Bank and Kenneth J. Fadke, Director, have been incredible mentors to me and shown me unbeliev- able support along the way. Connie Con- nolly, past president of Western Bank of Clovis was a great mentor to me as well. Also, I have to give credit to the many Senior and Executive Officer’s of Western Commerce Bank, Western Bank of Clovis and Western Bank of Alamogordo who literally raised me from childhood. 5. Do you have any advice for young bankers? The best advice I can give a young banker would be the same advice my grandfather gave me. He said there are five words that will make you successful. n President’s Message continued on page 4