Generational Bankers Share Thoughts on Banking & Money
By Arkansas Next on Thursday, March 31, 2022
Who knows best about budgets? Here are representatives from Generation Z and the Millennials here to clear up a few things.
Max Harrell
Age: 25
Market President, Generations Bank in Rogers
Sixth generation banker
How did you get to your current position?
"I got to my current position at Generations Bank after working through many different aspects of the bank. I worked as a teller during the summers and winter breaks during college, then worked as a part-time credit analyst for a few years later in college. After graduation, I took a full-time job as a lender in Fayetteville. After about three years in lending, I was promoted to Market President in Rogers."
Did you always know you wanted to work in banking?
"I didn’t know I wanted to work in banking. Obviously, growing up I was around the banking world quite a bit. I appreciated the work-life balance that it provided and the respect that my dad and grandad held in the community. It seemed to be a natural fit as I grew older."
How does your banking career compare to your family members'?
"Depending on how far we want to go back, it has changed dramatically. While the original construct of banking has remained the same, many of the aspects have changed."
Have customers' money mindsets changed as the generations changed?
"Customers operate differently now more than ever. For one, we see less physical money transactions and more digital. Customers want to be able to access their funds from anywhere at any time. Time and efficiency have become two critical focuses for the new age customer."
Growing up Gen Z, what was “rich'' to you?
"'Rich' to me was anyone who drove around in a cool car."
Did you grow up saving or spending?
"I grew up saving. It was impressed upon me at an early age, the importance of saving."
Did you work or have a summer job in high school?
"I did. I worked most summers at a local landscaping company. I was the dedicated mulch guy."
What was something you couldn’t wait to buy when you grew up?
"A house. Something to make your own on the inside and out."
Alex Gladden
Age: 36
President, Signature Bank of Arkansas in Springdale
third generation banker
How did you get to your current position?
"I started working at Signature Bank of Arkansas in 2005 as a part-time retail banker through my senior year of high school and into college. In college, I was able to work part-time for our loan operations department, then moved into a loan coordinator position. After coordinating a year, a lending opportunity opened up, and I jumped on it. I was able to serve as the loan manager for seven years following, then moved into my most recent position as market president three years ago."
Did you always know you wanted to work in banking?
"I likely wanted to be a princess or vet, or possibly a princess vet. However, I have been lucky enough to have an opportunity to watch my father progress in his banking career, watching deals come together or buildings he loaned on be constructed. He always showed such pride in helping others be able to follow their dreams. I always liked seeing firsthand how he was able to impact our community."
How does your banking career compare to your family members'?
"This would probably depend on which family member you asked! I think we would all say we had it harder in some areas and easier in others! Apparently one generation had to go to school uphill both ways, I personally have never had such a hill."
Have customers' money mindsets changed as the generations changed?
"I think people are how they are based on personal experiences or having mentors in life that change how you see things. You have the go-getters, the conservatives and then groups on all sides and in the middle—it takes all of us to make the world go round."
Growing up as a millennial, what was "rich" to you?
"I remember always thinking you were “rich” if you had a pair of Seven For All Mankind jeans. I saved all my paychecks for those jeans. I think as you get older, you realize being rich is just being able to provide a comfortable life for your family and being healthy."
Did you grow up saving or spending?
"Outside of my unnecessary jean collection, I was a saver. Just ask my dad about our deal on my wedding (Hint: I took the check.)."
Did you work or have a summer job in high school?
"I have had a job since I was old enough to be considered responsible. I was able to babysit for neighborhood kids before I was able to drive. I did some summer nanny jobs, my first W2 job was at a Hallmark store. Then, I was able to work for a family friend at Lindsey & Associates, and now, somehow I have been in banking for 17 years."
What was something you couldn’t wait to buy when you grew up?
"A beach house. I still unfortunately don’t have one, but I am not all the way grown up yet either."