Banking on Tomorrow: Rising Stars of Triad Business Bank
Q&A Series: Andrew Hart
Triad Business Bank is proud to introduce a dynamic team of young banking professionals, each with their own inspiring journey and unique perspectives. This Q&A series will highlight the stories of these young bankers as they share their industry experiences, professional insights, and future aspirations. This installment in our Young Bankers series features Andrew Hart, who provides background on his career as a talented young professional as well as general industry insights.
Q: Where are you from originally?
Andrew: I was born in Portland, Oregon and moved to coastal NC during high school. Greensboro, NC has been our home since 2008.
Q: Can you tell us about your journey into the banking industry and what inspired you to pursue a career in finance?
Andrew: Numbers have always been fascinating to me. Upon starting college, I still did not know if I wanted to focus my studies on chemistry or accounting, so I started taking science and business classes. When I took Intro to Finance as part of my core coursework, I found my calling. For me, finance is a combination of what interested me about both chemistry and business. There’s a sense of discovering the elements behind what’s actually going on, just like chemistry. And I get to apply that knowledge in a practical way that matters in day-to-day life. Numbers are behind the reality we see in this world.
Q: How did you get your start in the industry?
Andrew: I started on the teller line during the Great Recession. It wasn’t a job that many of my peers with college degrees were looking for. And to be honest, it wasn’t my first choice either. But looking back, I’ve become appreciative of that opportunity to get a firsthand view of retail banking and met some really amazing clients in the process. I’ve tried to take that perspective with me as I’ve moved on in my career.
Q: What do you find most rewarding about working in the banking industry, especially as a young professional?
Andrew: Having that ah-ha moment with a client is quite special. Those times when you know you’ve truly helped them solve a problem are the most rewarding ne experience that stands out was when a client and I were talking about a specific lending product. I walked the client through how the product worked, what our role was as their banking partner, and how this could help him fill the business need. I saw the client’s face light up. He understood and could see the bottom line, practical results from the solution: enough incremental cash flow to fund another employee to continue to grow his business. Helping customers find a solution is the best feeling. And because I work for a local bank that is dedicated to the community that I live in, there is no better feeling than knowing I played a part in providing a job to one of my neighbors and growing my local economy. And while I love numbers and the stories they tell; it is the stories of the people behind those numbers that drive me to do what I do.
Q: Are there any individuals who have been influential during your career?
Andrew: Kristina Boswell was my manager when I was still beginning my career as Credit Analyst, and she always believed in me. She pushed me to learn new things and advocated for me to be able to take on new opportunities. I’ll always be grateful to her for how she encouraged me and the rest of the people on her staff. I’m also forever grateful to Richard Berlin, a leader who gave me confidence in a new role. He’s a brilliant coach and credit mind. And he has an uncanny ability to deliver feedback in a way that inspires me to push myself and improve. I’m fortunate to still have him in my life as a friend and a mentor.
Q: What role do you think community involvement plays in the success of a young banker, and how have you been involved in your local community?
Andrew: Being active in your community is two-fold – Networking and Volunteering. Networking is vital to getting to know leaders, businesses and organizations in your community. Actively contributing to your community through volunteerism is vital for anyone looking to make an impact locally. This is especially true for young bankers working at a community-centered bank. A strong community fosters healthy businesses; successful businesses repay loans; and high-quality credits allow banks to continue lending to local, growing businesses. My most impactful role in my community was as a founding member of the Greensboro YP Chapter of Civitan International in 2013, the first Young Profession charter of Civitan International. I have also served on the board of the Triad Chapter of Risk Management Association, where I was the Young Professionals Chair and responsible for organizing credit-focused events to bring people together with the object of providing credit risk education.
Q: What are some challenges or obstacles you feel you have faced as a young person in the banking industry, and how did you overcome those?
Andrew: Young professionals can run into the classic Catch-22 scenario: a certain level of experience is needed to be able to perform at a high level within a job function, but it can be difficult to get the experience required to be successful in that desired position. Banking is no different and so far in my career, I have been presented with the same situation. So, what did I do? I continued to ask questions, participated in self-study outside of work, volunteered for tasks at work and always listened when a mentor would take the time to share their knowledge.
Q: Where do you see the banking industry headed in the future? What are some trends you’ve noticed?
Andrew: Technology will continue to play a role in banking. To what extent, I believe will depend on government regulation. We are at a very interesting point in time where some banks believe they must merge and scale up to survive, while other banks are seeking to divest lines of business and get smaller.
Q: How can the industry as a whole better recruit and retain young talent?
Andrew: Education is crucial to attracting young, talented individuals to the banking industry. Students may have a preconceived notion about banking or be unaware that their talents could be very valuable. The banking industry needs to better educate young professionals on the wide range of functions a bank must fulfill to be operationally effective and efficient. High school and college students need to understand there are a lot of roles within banking outside of sales and credit and what they see within a retail branch.
Q: What is your 5-year plan as a young banker in the Triad?
Andrew: I aspire to continue learning as much about credit as possible with the ultimate goal of becoming a credit officer. I look forward to being a mentor to others who share a passion for numbers, credit and risk assessment.