Associate Spotlight – Matt Warren
How did you build relationships with the commercial bankers at NBC? One of the most significant ways I’ve been able to build relationships with commercial bankers is to attend meetings and outside events with the team. The commercial bankers have a meeting every other Wednesday, and during this meeting, I can share updates with them about the SBA program and any big changes that are being made. This leads to one of the biggest foundations in any relationship, which is trust. By sharing these updates with them, they can trust me to know that everything is done according to the most up-to-date rules when we work together on an SBA loan. They can also utilize me for meetings with customers where I can answer questions that the customers have about how the SBA program works. By attending outside events with them, we get to know each other on a personal level, which leads to an even stronger relationship!
What is one thing you’d like our customers to know about SBA & Agency lending? While extra paperwork is involved in any government program, it’s my job to walk the customer through that paperwork to ensure the application process moves smoothly. I can fill out most of the paperwork on behalf of the borrower so that all they have to do is proofread what I wrote and sign the bottom line! These are great programs to utilize when customers have financing needs that don’t quite meet the requirements of a conventional loan.
What does it mean to you to work at a community bank? To me, working at a community bank means that the number one goal of the bank will always be to serve the needs of our local communities in many ways. Working in commercial lending means that I get to work with local small business owners. By working in the Agency Lending space, I get to work with some amazing people who may not have had the opportunity to pursue their dreams without the help of the SBA, USDA, or FSA financing programs, which is one of the main reasons why NBC created the position in the first place.
What’s one hobby or activity outside of work that energizes you? I play volleyball year-round – indoor at the local YMCAs in the winter and sand volleyball at various places throughout the Twin Ports in the summer. My fiancée has played her entire life, and she has gotten me more involved in the three years we’ve been together. While my skills are still a work in progress, it’s a sport that I’ll hopefully be able to enjoy my entire life, and as a naturally competitive person, I can get those competitive juices flowing!
If you could travel anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go and why? New Zealand! It looks like a beautiful country, and as a big fan (nerd) of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, I would love to see where the movies were filmed!