Staff Photo by Holly Leber
Jeremy Jenkins works on his computer at Regions Bank on Market Street.* Name: Jeremy Jenkins
* Position: Assistant vice president and branch manager
* Location: Regions Bank, Market Street
* First job: Cleaning clubs and picking up the driving range at the country club in Cleveland, Tenn.
* Best part of the job: “The customer interaction. I love the public and I get to deal with them on a day-to-day basis. My job is geared toward small business. I love the inner workings of small businesses – the cash flow, the resources. To be able to understand that, to put it all together and help a customer out, to me it’s the best feeling in the world. We get to make people’s dreams come true on the business side. People have aspirations of growing a business or even starting a business – and we get to make that come true.”
* Worst part of the job: “The biggest challenge is the public perception of banks and how we don’t want to lend right now. Over the past 12 to 24 months, our lending has actually picked up. We are eager to lend, but the public perception of banks in general in this economy is an obstacle we have to overcome with our customers.”
* What he’s learned: “People are in so many different situations, not just financially. You learn about how people are so happy with either little or no money at all. It’s really an eye opener when you deal with different sides of the general public and when you get to help them. I catch myself outside the bank being more aware of different situations that people may be in. I feel like I’m a little bit more caring.”
* How to make a career of it: Jenkins, who graduated from University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a degree in finance and accounting in 2003, said a background in finance is important, as well as a strong awareness of the current economic climate. “You have to stay abreast of what’s going on in the world.”
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