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Bankers Trust's leader honored by Chinese community
Northwestern Financial Review, Apr 1-Apr 14, 2005 by Hilgert, Jackie
Des Moines, Iowa-based Bankers Trust was recognized for its cultural openness recently when the Chinese Association of Iowa bestowed its Corporate Leadership Award to the bank's President and CEO, J. Michael Earley. He accepted the honor at a celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year, February 12.
"A company and its culture is a reflection of its leadership," said Swallow Yan, executive director of the association. "The president and CEO can create policies that promote diversity, fairness and support of people from all backgrounds and beliefs, but it's the person behind the title who leads by example and truly shapes the character, the caring, and the commitment that changes and improves lives."
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Through a variety of programs and services, the Chinese Association of Iowa promotes statewide cultural diversity for Asians and it relies on corporate sponsorships for funding, Yan explained. "What makes Bankers Trust different is that we never have to approach them, they always come to us and ask, 'what can we do for you?'"
"It's very easy to send money and just add a logo to our web site; Bankers Trust gives us money but also sends us specialists and consultants to advise us on how to promote our events and to make things better," Yan said.
Bankers Trust does support the Asian community as well as the Hispanic community and other ethnic groups, said Paul Erickson, senior vice president of the bank's retail division. To celebrate the Chinese New Year, for instance, the bank offers Asian food in each of its branches and performs a lion dance at select locations. "We're a big sponsor of the Iowa Asian Alliance, which promotes business, economic and community development in the Asian community. We also sponsor many other ethnic fairs and festivals that come around during the year," Erickson said.
Surasee Rodari is a branch manager for Bankers Trust. Born in Thailand, Rodari has been with the bank 26 years and, along with Earley, has promoted bank support for the Asian community. With the bank's backing, the association can offer educational opportunities, language classes, even movies in Chinese for its members, Rodari explained. At this time of year, Rodari added, the association brings in experts in tax law to explain the various requirements to taxpayers.
"This month we will host the Chinese Consulate General, who will come here so Chinese people can renew their passports right at the bank," Rodari said.
The cultural openness at Bankers Trust also extends to corporate hiring. "We think it's important that our staff looks like the customers they serve," Erickson explained. Of the bank's 315 employees, approximately 20 percent are people of color. "We're just attuned to what makes our customers feel comfortable when they're in the branches."
Yan said Barley's support is very much appreciated. "He doesn't make every event, but he always sends a representative; often that representative is Rodari," Yan said. "Mike Earley has always been very supportive of us."
On the same day Earley accepted his award, Bankers Trust employees working at Rodari's branch passed out small amounts of new money to Chinese youngsters as part of bringing in the Year of the Rooster.
"In the Chinese culture," Rodari explained, "new money for the new year is supposed to bring good luck."
By Jackie Hilgert
Copyright NFR Communications Inc Apr 1-Apr 14, 2005
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