Britne Corkill

I attribute my success to the strong influence of my mother and the early start I had in the banking industry at just 15 years old. Her guidance instilled in me the values of discipline, accountability, and perseverance, which shaped my work ethic from a young age. Beginning my career in banking early allowed me to gain foundational experience, develop confidence in customer service, and build a deep understanding of the industry over time. These early lessons, combined with years of progressive growth and dedication, have been instrumental in shaping my professional journey and long-term success.

The best career advice I have ever received is to never give up. That simple but powerful guidance has stayed with me throughout my professional journey and has carried me through challenges, setbacks, and periods of growth. It has taught me resilience, patience, and the importance of staying committed to long-term goals even when the path is not easy or immediate results are not visible. By consistently applying this mindset, I have been able to push through obstacles, continue developing my skills, and remain focused on achieving meaningful success in my career.

The opportunities are endless in banking. You can start as a teller if you're just beginning, or if you're going to college for finance or accounting, look into internships at banks - many offer summer internships that get your foot in the door and let you actually live in the field. I would really highly encourage anybody wanting to get into the field to look into internships at banks. Be really diligent in looking at financial institutions' websites, create a LinkedIn and start your following, or ask if somebody knows somebody in banking. Colleges should also be able to provide that information.

One of the biggest challenges is the economy that we're in - it affects a lot, especially our borrowers. Nobody really predicted a pandemic happening at all, so there were some losses there. There's also the challenge of going out, hustling, and consistently doing great follow-up, but then sometimes something happens right before closing and the deal just falls through. People may not have sufficient income or credit, but the thing is, there's always other ways around it. Since I've been in the industry for so long and in the community in Arizona where I'm born and raised, I have the ability to refer over to other institutions or to CDFIs, which are nonprofits that help businesses obtain loans for a specific amount of time and amount. They're funded by the government and FDIC supports it as well. So I never stop helping my clients, even if I'm not able to get something done for them - that's the best way to build those relationships.

I value honesty and communication and transparency. I know there's a limit on how transparent you can be with people you engage with at work, but I feel that's the best way to develop and grow your team. Really good communication and teamwork are essential. I believe in having integrity in your work and being ethical. And I think it's important to work smarter, not harder. In my personal life, I really value my family time and my girlfriend time too. My husband and I have established one day a week for each of us - his day is Tuesday nights for trivia with his friends, and Wednesdays are my night for hiking or catching up with a friend.