After nearly half a century in banking, a penny for his thoughts

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Banker Joe Davidson remembers a time when a handshake might nearly function a buyer’s collateral.

After 49 years in banking, Davidson’s handshake might include a examine on somebody’s credit score report, however he nonetheless sees banking as a transaction between folks you realize.

“You simply knew folks,” mentioned Davidson, who was honored with cake and a celebration final week for his tenure on the solely full time job he is ever held. “We nonetheless know folks, however that is how banking is lately. It might not have been with only a handshake, nevertheless it was fairly shut.”

The paperwork and background checks concerned in a mortgage transaction aren’t the one adjustments Davidson, market president for the Byers, Texas, department of First Capital Financial institution of Texas, has seen in practically half a century.

Davidson, who remembers sustaining the day by day ledger by hand, has had a key to the financial institution constructing in Byers since his first day on the job, Aug. 23, 1971, when he started to work for a legend and function mannequin, Joe Parker Sr., proprietor of what was then the First Nationwide Financial institution of Byers, which opened in 1907.

Having simply graduated from Midwestern College — previous to the addition of center title of “State” — Davidson interviewed for a job, given just one piece of recommendation.

“Dick Gaines, answerable for loans on the financial institution, advised me, ‘Earlier than you meet with Mr. Parker, you may need to shave these sideburns,”https://www.timesrecordnews.com/” he recalled. “It was the ’70s, in any case. I advised him I might get a burr.”

For the second interview, sideburns gone, Davidson was in a position to deliver his spouse, Donna.

Parker requested Davidson when he might begin.

“I feel that was on a Thursday,” Davidson mentioned. “I mentioned, ‘How about Monday?”https://www.timesrecordnews.com/”

He later labored for “Joe Sr.’s” son, Joe Parker Jr., whom he additionally admires significantly.

“I might wish to brag particularly on the Parker household,” he mentioned. “Right here I was, recent out of faculty, they usually took me and confirmed me all the things. I wish to say I went to the Joe Parker College of Banking.

“Joe Sr. did issues in a method that, if he believed in you, in the event you had been arduous working, he would exit of his method for you.” 

Banks had been smaller again then, Davidson added, less complicated, when cash went farther.

“We’ve grown tremendously,” having been purchased by Constancy Financial institution after which, most not too long ago, FirstCapital Financial institution of Texas. “We had been nation and wished it that method,” a small group with a small group financial institution.

Davidson burdened that he has appreciated all concerned within the financial institution’s transformations, whatever the title adjustments. 

“I’ve labored with some nice folks,” he mentioned, “42 years with one financial institution, the final seven with the larger banks. We have saved issues happening as normal, and the top outcome is identical. You are still coping with folks.

“The way you get there adjustments, however individuals are the identical.”

There’s not numerous turnover on the Byers location, Davidson mentioned, as he lists the names of employees who’ve served many years on the financial institution.

“We’re nonetheless a financial institution largely for native space farmers and ranchers,” mentioned Davidson, who sees kids and grandchildren of his first clients stroll into the financial institution for life-changing loans.

A local of Bellevue, Texas, the place a street that intersects with U.S. 287 bears the household’s final title, Davidson is what his colleagues in banking name a dying breed. 

“He is one of many nicest individuals I’ve ever labored with,” mentioned Tommy McCullough, vice chair of FirstCapital Financial institution of Texas, “at all times thoughtful of one other individual’s emotions.”

McCullough, who mentioned Davidson has labored on the similar location with three banks for all 49 years, recalled how one other banker describes him.

“In case you have an issue with Joe, then you might need to have a look at what you are doing fallacious.”

Byers might not have been the place Davidson was born, however the small Clay County group has handled him like household, particularly throughout some tough instances, since he and his spouse moved there in 1972.

Donna and Joe misplaced son Coby in 1991, when the younger man was 16, in a freak accident. And this week, Joe could have been with out his beloved spouse for eight years, dropping her to breast most cancers in 2012. Donna labored on the financial institution for 17 years, beginning as a financial institution teller in 1995 and progressing to assistant vp of teller operations and accounts payable, earlier than her loss of life. 

“I couldn’t have gone by that with out the love and assist of individuals in Byers and on this financial institution,” mentioned Davidson. “This group has been a blessing, particularly whenever you’re working with good folks.

“I’ve had a very good life, with numerous associates, folks I certain factor the world of.”

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