Who is Your "Uncle Dave?"

“'I might have to make a visit to Uncle Dave,' which is what people in Ouray say when they need to take a loan from the local bank, Citizen’s State, whose chairman is named David Wood.”

This is an excerpt from Twilight of a Mountain God, an article about Rick Trujillo - who said the quote - in the January, 2009 Runner’s World magazine.

Trujillo is part mountain goat … his trail running accomplishments, tenacity, endurance and downright stubbornness made me say, “Wow.”  Then I got to this quote and said ... well, let’s just say it was more than “wow.”

Sure, the city of Ouray, Colorado has fewer than 1,000 residents – but any community bank or credit union in ANY city can have an “Uncle Dave.”  It can be your chairman, president, or branch manager.  Even in a metropolitan area, a community institution can have the "Uncle Dave" of the neighborhood surrounding the branch.

Essentially, Uncle Dave is the community’s go-to-guy when it comes to banking.

Think of the power of having an Uncle Dave … especially in this economy with money transferring and trust wavering. 

My goal for 2009 is to begin to create at least one Uncle Dave (this type of rep won’t come overnight). 

You just need to:

• Have the right Uncle Dave – someone who can represent the bank or credit union well and “own the role.”
  
• Be the first to market – it won’t do to be the second Uncle Dave in the market
  
• Be consistent – Uncle Dave is a THE community banker
  

If you have an “Uncle Dave,” please share some thoughts about it in this blog.

Have a very merry Christmas and happy holidays.

Take care,

Eric