Pub. 14 2019-2020 Issue 3

NEBRASKA BANKERS ASSOCIATION 9 Email Rob Nichols at rnichols@aba.com . “There’s so much opportunity here. This is where I want to be. I want to be part of this change in making things better for customers in giving broader access, and developing tools that can help people save, small businesses grow and communities develop,” says Ashley Nagle Eknaian, chief digital strategist and head of Eastern Labs at Eastern Bank. “Banking is wonderful because you get to see the impact that you have on the community around you.... That gratification is enough to just say, wow – I’mdoing something important,” says Julio Figueroa, who within five years advanced from teller to security officer at Windsor Federal Savings. These individuals and the others profiled came to banking by different paths. Two transitioned into banking after serving in the military. One started as an intern and quickly found he had tremendous professional growth potential. Yet another spent time in the fashion business. Their backgrounds, roles and testimonials shatter banker stereotypes and show what it really means to be a banker in today’s modern world. And they are a wonderful complement to ABA’s America’s Banks website (aba.com/AmericasBanks) that tells the story of banking today and the industry’s eco- nomic impact. We couldn’t have asked for more compelling spokespeople for our industry. When we asked these banking leaders to describe their careers in one word, they answered with adjectives like, “life-changing,” “impactful,” “fulfilling,” “incredible” and “entrepreneurial.” Our job now is to let the world hear their stories, and we’re counting on you, the state associations and social media to help. Please consider showing the collective or individual videos to job applicants at your bank and at local job fairs. Share them with local colleges and career placement offices, and encourage your employees to do the same. These videos, combined with all that banks individually and collectively have to offer – including training, professional development and community involvement –make a compelling case for banking as a career choice. And the more we can help talented individuals find their future in banking, the more we, too, will be rewarded. 