Cole: What do you think are the biggest challenges facing the banking industry today, and how do you see Wintrust overcoming them? Evans: The advent of the smart phone has led to a major shift in how customers transfer currency and process transactions. There aren’t many reasons now to visit a bank branch. When I started my career in banking as a part-time teller in college, I would process an average of 150 transactions a day. Now the average teller transacts fewer than 20 transactions a day. The ability to transfer money via Zelle, Cash App, Venmo, etc., is super convenient. With this convenience comes the increased risk of fraud, which I view as one of the biggest challenges for the banking industry presently. I always encourage young people today to obtain and use a credit card instead of a debit card. If your credit card is stolen or comprised, it’s the bank’s money and not your money. Of course, you have to use the credit card wisely and try and pay off all charges monthly.
Throughout my career, I’ve been diligent in shying away from the large banks and seeking career opportunities with smaller, regional banks. I find that with the large banks it’s process over people more often than not. Whereas with the smaller more nimble banks, it’s people over process. It’s also important for me to work for an organization that exhibits a great culture from the top down. It’s important as well for me to meet and know the leader of that organization. That’s not often possible with large institutions. Cole: How do you prioritize work-life balance, and what advice do you have for junior professionals who are struggling to find balance? Evans: It’s important for me to “semi- unplug” on weekends from my day job at Wintrust. Semi- unplugged for me means responding to two or three emails over the weekend and attending one or two client weekend social/entertainment events monthly. I currently serve on five nonprofit boards and Wintrust is great with encouraging and being supportive of my board service and those organizations I’m affiliated with. For junior banking professionals, I say your profession has to be just that—a profession/ career and not just a job. You should find something that rewards you financially as well as personally and emotionally. Cole: As an African American leader, what do you consider to be one of the most difficult obstacles you’ve faced? Evans: As a commercial banker, I’m often the only person of color in the room. That can lend itself to isolationism and/or intended or unintended micro aggressions. Growing up as an only sibling, I developed a fairly strong sense of independence and confidence early on and try not to allow negative energy to impede my mission and/or objective
Photo: McBoat Photography
26 The Acumen
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