Current employment/job title: U.S. Bank in Pella, IA, Assistant Relationship Manager
I work in the commercial department of the bank. This department works primarily with commercial and agricultural clients who are interested in obtaining a loan for their business. In my role, I work together with my manager and customers to gather and analyze the necessary information for a loan approval. This is includes assembling financial statements, reviewing tax returns, and analyzing any other information that could be helpful in making a credit approval decision. Interacting with the customer - understanding their farming/business operation and financial need, and then determining what we can do as a bank to help them out is my favorite part of the job.
I grew up on a family farm in southeast Iowa, so agriculture is a passion of mine. Understanding the financial side of business has always been an interest of mine as well and this job combines both of those areas.
I draw on the material I learned in many of my Iowa State classes - Farm Business Management and Acct 284, especially. Iowa State also presented several opportunities to work as a team, which is a key part of my work environment.
This is a great area of the business to be in! There is a lot to learn with agricultural credit, so I would encourage anyone who is interested in the finance area to rely on your resources and ask questions. Internships are a great way to gain experience as well.