Jessi Close
Jessi (Jessica) Close is a seasoned financial professional with a career in banking and finance spanning more than 15 years, complemented by over 25 years of broader management and operational experience. She currently serves as the Branch Manager for the newly established Clifton Park branch of The Bank of Greene County, a de novo location she helped build from the ground up, starting with zero customers and accounts. This role perfectly combines her passion for helping people with her entrepreneurial spirit, while benefiting from the legacy and stability of an institution with over 135 years of history. Jessi is recognized for her ability to drive growth, cultivate strong client relationships, and deliver meaningful financial solutions.
Before joining Bank of Greene County, Jessi spent over six years with The Bonadio Group, a national CPA firm, where she progressed from internal auditor to principal. This experience provided her with deep insight into the operational and regulatory requirements of financial institutions. She also served as Branch Manager with Berkshire Bank and held several entrepreneurial roles, including launching the U.S.-based division of Migrate Business America, which featured co-working spaces, and helping grow a translation company from $500,000 to $5 million in revenue. Her early professional experience included management training at Ames Department Stores and a foundational role at Fleet Bank (later acquired by Bank of America), where she honed the importance of relationship-driven service.
Beyond her professional achievements, Jessi is deeply committed to supporting both her clients and her community. She actively serves on the boards of the YWCA NorthEastern NY and the International Center of the Capital Region, championing initiatives that empower women and strengthen local businesses. Today, she focuses heavily on financial wellness coaching, helping individuals especially women build financial independence and confidence. Known for her strategic insight, operational expertise, and authentic approach, Jessi combines her deep industry knowledge with a personal dedication to helping people navigate complex financial challenges and achieve long-term success.
• SUNY Polytechnic Institute - BBA, Finance, General
• Mohawk Valley Community College - AAS, Small Business Administration/Management
• Albany Business Review's 40 Under 40 (2009)
• Capital Region Chamber (Ambassador)
• YWCA of Northeastern New York (Board Member)
• Pallet Community
• Event planning and supporting nonprofit organizations
• YWCA NorthEastern NY
• International Center of the Capital Region
What do you attribute your success to?
I would say tenacity. It has been, you know, when I get knocked down, getting back up, and surrounding myself with more individuals that were rooting for me than tearing me down. Rooting for me doesn't necessarily mean that they were yes-ing me along the way. That support was there, but it wasn't tearing me down if I made a mistake. It was, hey, what did we learn from this? What are we gonna do with that? So that, to me, is having a support system in place that helped bring me up versus tearing me down.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I think it was kind of twofold. It was coming from two different directions. One was a couple of my former managers early on who said, do something that you love. And then the other was, hey, I think you would be really great in banking! So, with those two things, it was something that I was always then looking for that next opportunity that would bring joy. It hasn't always been there, but as I've come through life, yeah, find something you love.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice would be to find a mentor. Look for someone that shows up with integrity, and that you can respect, and is offering that helping hand without too much heavy-handedness. You're looking for someone who's not going to give you all the answers, but is going to help guide. I think that has been one of the tremendous things that I had during my career development - it was typically other women that I worked with. There were a couple of men along the way that were really great role models, but I was looking for that strong, independent woman that I could model after. That's something that I think young women joining the financial industry need - you want to see if there's someone there that you would want to be like one day.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is that the competition is essentially fierce. There are so many financial institutions and options available online for individuals. I've turned that into a big opportunity where I have more recently really focused in on creating my own personal brand - really trying to differentiate myself from, not necessarily separate myself from my current employer, but that does not define me. I've been really focusing in on what I bring to the table, and how I help individuals. I've been focusing on financial wellness coaching, and working with individuals above and beyond, outside of the quote-unquote 9 to 5. I'm bringing the experience and passion that I have for, in particular, women, to have financial independence and create an environment where they feel confident and really take away that guilt factor or shame if they don't feel like they're managing the household finances as well as maybe they're managing the companies and businesses that they run.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I look for integrity. Honestly, I look for people that are going to be real. Like, they know who they are, and they're comfortable with that. I look for individuals that don't have a false sense of accomplishments - they're modest, if you will. Integrity, what I see, the people that I connect to the most, they're vulnerable, they're honest, and it's not just surface level. They're willing to admit maybe when they don't know something, or when they're wrong, but are right there for you. That, to me, you can work through almost anything when you have people like that around you.