This feature is a question-and-answer session with a new Blount County Chamber member. So, here we go with our 176th installment visiting with Andrew Vollman, Vice President / Relationship Manager of FirstBank which is a Tennessee-based, local, small community bank. We are very involved in giving back to our community thru volunteer work, donations, sponsorships and helping positively grow our local economies by staying active and involved in our communities.
FirstBank has made small town life our business culture empowering local market presidents and managers to make real decisions locally. You can walk into any branch and find a welcoming smile and willingness to help. You will know instantly you’re not just a customer. You’re part of the FirstBank family.
How did you get started? I’ve been in the financial inustry for almost 15 years. Moving to Maryville from South Florida in 2007, I began my financial career starting at Clayton Homes. From there to Edward Jones Investments, Commercial Insurance, Banking and planning/investment management.
What is your background? My work experience affords me my Series 7 and Series 66 securities licenses, life, health, variable contracts, property, casualty and NMLS licenses. I have extensive knowledge in investment management, banking, lending, retirement planning, and insurance needs for clients.
Who is your mentor? A former colleague of mine during my years working in Premier Banking and Advising at SunTrust, Sandra Kane, helped guide me along my journey with encouragement, and giving me the skills I needed to be successful, having meaningful and caring, and goal-oriented conversations with all people I talk with.
Describe your customers. My customers can be anybody or any business that understands the value of small community banks, local decision making and looking towards the future with their financial goals and objectives in mind. Having a holistic conversation with a business or a personal customer, and sharing advice and listening to their needs is what we can help with. If our local community thrives, then FirstBank is doing something right.
How do the environments impact the business environment you work in? FirstBank values all customers in the same light no matter what makes us all different. Thru the economic challenges now or what may come later, our decision making is local, which adds to our value of helping our communities as we know what may be best over some other faraway headquartered larger bank.
Name three things you wish you knew when you started. 1 – more connections and people in my community, which is why I’ve joined the highly rated Blount Partnership. 2 – Start financial planning early, and look at changes as they come, understanding life is a fluid cycle, not static. 3 – The beauty and care of small community banks as opposed to larger corporate nationwide banks. It is a huge difference in culture and business style.
What do you enjoy about the banking business? FirstBank affords me the ability to be an entreprenuer in my role. Care, courage and concern are three things that FirstBank employs in its associates and all customers. One of its values is “Enjoy Life”, which goes to show that we’re all attempting to help each other succeed in many ways than we can see at the moment. Looking at a customer’s entire financial relationship and helping them all the way from their retirement needs thru asset management, lending needs, and basic banking is what I enjoy most. Offering the entire bank’s services to a customer. And what a joy it is to meet new people and offer them sound advice thru our solutions.