Being an "A" Player in a "D" Bank

It's been a couple of weeks since my last post and I figured it is about time to post again. It is pretty much impossible to keep up with the latest news in banking and I have (almost) stopped trying. My thoughts recently have been to focus on who are the real victims in this whole crisis and I have concluded that there are lots of people that are being negatively affected and are paying consequences and it is not just consumers and borrowers. I have really been forced to look through the eyes of the banker whose job is cut due to market circumstances and the current financial crisis. I am not talking about the CEO's and CFO's of Lehman or Wachovia--I am talking about "A" players that have been integral to the growth of the banks that employ them and today have been sent packing. I talk to "A" players daily, and most of these people I consider to be the smartest people that I have the privilege to learn from. Many have been loyal to their banks, maintained a loyal customer following, provided a solid image for the bank through community involvement, and are now left scratching their head because the bank that they have been such an integral part of has now let them know that they are not going to be able to continue to keep them on the payroll through this economic downturn. Some economists would argue that this is just a part of free market enterprise and that everything will balance itself out (some of the same professionals that are now not sure where to start in their job hunt) because that is the way our economy is set up. I can agree to a point and argue that these same bankers that I am now working with to help them find strong opportunities as recently as six months ago pretty much wanted to hang up on me when I called them to let them know about what the competition was looking for. I realize that sometimes you just don't have time to listen to or talk with a recruiter, but now those same bankers are demanding my time in helping them find opportunities. I cannot predict the future and couldn't have known that the banking industry would be one of the industries most negatively affected by this crisis, but I can see that there are many "A" players out there in the market that are or were with "D" level banks and that bank name on their resume can be a huge roadblock to great opportunities. The reputation that these "D" banks carry can make it difficult to even get an interview with a strong bank. I think a lot of the public has also placed blame on bankers at every level and have associated a distrust for loan officers especially. I would urge all "A" players to hold your employer accountable for its reputation and not rely on the fact that you have been loyal to them and made them profitable. It is your career and your reputation as a financial professional to make sure that your personal philosophy and your employers mission statement are consistent. If you find yourself in a "D" organization that doesn't practice safety and soundness, you may want to find an organization that matches your personal philosophy so that you don't become an "A" player stuck in a "D" organization---or worse---no organization at all!