Pub. 2 2014 Issue 3

www.uba.org 6 T he Utah Bankers Association has bestowed its highest honor, “The Distinguished Banker Award,” on Louise P. Kelly, President & CEO of EnerBank USA, in recognition of her ac- tive leadership in Utah’s and the nation’s banking industry and her exceptional community service. The presentation was made at the Association’s Annual Convention in June. Louise P. Kelly is the founding executive of EnerBank USA, established in Salt Lake City in 2002, as the only bank in the country to exclusively serve the home improvement lending market with unse- cured loans. This is a niche market she pioneered; it was a new concept, new to the banking industry, and new to Utah. From just a seed of an idea, EnerBank has flourished in 12 years into a na- tion-wide bank serving more than 90,000 customers in all 50 states with a staff of over 200. Today, deposits exceed $700 million and loans are $800 million on a constantly turning balance sheet of 12 month loans. According to UBA President Howard Headlee, “The growth and success of the bank is a tribute to Louise’s visionary, sales-oriented leadership. Not only did she lead the strategic process to create and build the bank; she engaged in every detail of its operation down to the writing of the materials used to engage customers.” The bank works with strategic partners – manufacturers, distributors, franchis- ers and retailers of home improvement and energy-saving products and ser- vices. All EnerBank loans originate with a home improvement contractor or dealer. Early on, it was heating and air conditioning, and it now includes major partners like Anderson Windows, who offer their clients “one year, same as cash” financing directly through Ener- Bank. Kelly was Chairman of the Bankers Association, President of the Utah As- sociation of Financial Services, and Vice President on the National Association of Industrial Bankers. Her efforts on behalf of the industry during the Dodd-Frank debates had a significant impact on the shape of several proposals. Kelly was re- cently invited by the American Bankers Association to take a highly coveted seat on its Government Relations Council, the body which establishes the industry’s position and priorities in Washington D.C. She has been an active volunteer, mentor and board member People Helping Peo- ple, a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing the number of children living in poverty by teaching low-income wom- en how to earn a living wage. n “The growth and success of the bank is a tribute to Louise’s visionary, sales- oriented leadership. Not only did she lead the strategic process to create and build the bank; she engaged in every detail of its operation down to the writing of the materials used to engage customers.” – Howard Headlee Louise P. Kelly, 2014 Distinguished Banker, Receives Award at Utah Bankers Association Annual Convention