Bank's value goes beyond money
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By Lindsey Bever
neighborsgo reporter
Gary and Cynthia Blankenship opened their first Bank of the West location in Irving in 1986. Now, they have eight locations.
“We find that the smaller communities are our main niche,” Cynthia Blankenship said.
How did the bank get started?
“My husband and I had been in banking and decided there was a real need for privately held community banks. So we started the bank in 1986 with a group of investors. At that time, the larger banks weren’t servicing the smaller business customers. We decided to charter our own bank and focus on small businesses. The mom-and-pop businesses are the ones that really need personal care.”
How has it grown?
“It started as a $2 million, one-location bank and has grown to a $300 million, eight-location bank. We’ve grown because we’ve continued to analyze the need for small businesses. And we’ve always customized our services. It’s the ability to have the flexibly to serve your customers. As long as we’ve been able to focus on the needs for small-business customers, there will always be a need for us.”
What’s special about Bank of the West?
“We were the first preferred Small Business Association lender. We adopted that program in 1980s. We were the first preferred SPA lender in the North Texas area. The government gave us authority of our own underwriting on those credits under that program. That’s one of the tools that really contributed to our success.
“And then just having a personal relationship. We truly know every customer. The tenure and stability of our employees, which in turn fosters long-term relationships with customers, is what makes us unique.”
Best Community Bank: Bank of the West
Where: 2400 W. Irving Blvd., Irving 75061
Contact: 214-524-6800
Check out the full list of winners in the 2009 Neighbors Choice Awards Irving edition.
neighborsgo reporter
Gary and Cynthia Blankenship opened their first Bank of the West location in Irving in 1986. Now, they have eight locations.
“We find that the smaller communities are our main niche,” Cynthia Blankenship said.
How did the bank get started?
“My husband and I had been in banking and decided there was a real need for privately held community banks. So we started the bank in 1986 with a group of investors. At that time, the larger banks weren’t servicing the smaller business customers. We decided to charter our own bank and focus on small businesses. The mom-and-pop businesses are the ones that really need personal care.”
How has it grown?
“It started as a $2 million, one-location bank and has grown to a $300 million, eight-location bank. We’ve grown because we’ve continued to analyze the need for small businesses. And we’ve always customized our services. It’s the ability to have the flexibly to serve your customers. As long as we’ve been able to focus on the needs for small-business customers, there will always be a need for us.”
What’s special about Bank of the West?
“We were the first preferred Small Business Association lender. We adopted that program in 1980s. We were the first preferred SPA lender in the North Texas area. The government gave us authority of our own underwriting on those credits under that program. That’s one of the tools that really contributed to our success.
“And then just having a personal relationship. We truly know every customer. The tenure and stability of our employees, which in turn fosters long-term relationships with customers, is what makes us unique.”
Best Community Bank: Bank of the West
Where: 2400 W. Irving Blvd., Irving 75061
Contact: 214-524-6800
Check out the full list of winners in the 2009 Neighbors Choice Awards Irving edition.
