Sharon Hammel
Sharon Hammel
SVP and Chief Retail Officer, Republic Bank
Adding a personal touch to banking
Sharon Hammel’s “temporary” career has lasted for longer than 3 decades.
Hammel started her career as a bank teller at 18 while attending college part-time. It was never meant to be permanent, but her path branched off in a different direction when she found her niche in banking.
“Back then, I wasn’t necessarily thinking I would remain in banking for decades,” says Hammel. “But what I quickly found was that with a little bit of hard work and dedication, you can advance in your career.”
It’s “old fashioned,” advice, she says, but in her experience, it’s true. She was promoted to store manager at the age of 22 – a move that was both a risk for her, she says, and for the bank.
“I don’t want people just doing their jobs – I want to help them become passionate about meeting or exceeding our goals as an organization, as well as their personal goals. I want to inspire people to show up as their best selves in and out of work.”
“It’s not common to give someone so young an opportunity to step into a leadership position, but the bank saw promise in me, and I was too young to know what I didn’t know,” she says. “I was eager to learn and grow and take initiative, and that really helped me build character.”
As SVP and chief retail officer of Republic Bank, one of the region’s largest locally-based financial institutions, Hammel oversees the store network, depository growth, marketing, social media, store operations and consumer loans – all with a customer-first focus.
“We’re always trying to be innovative in the way we interact and engage with customers,” she says. “We’re creating a customer experience that supports the customers’ needs across all channels, so right now that means in-store, online, mobile – anything that makes banking more accessible and personal.”
That connection is important, she says – much more than many people realize.
“No matter where somebody chooses to establish their banking relationship, they always want to know that if they have an issue or a problem or a question, they have someone to turn to who will pick up the phone and help them – especially with something as personal as your money,” says Hammel.
That’s one of the most important things she’s realized, she says – even in the technology age, people still want to bank with people.
“That’s why we establish store locations in communities,” says Hammel. “We want to be fully engaged in the activities and organizations that support the communities we’re a part of. We want people to get to know us every day, to know what our faces look like. We want people to see us at events that celebrate the community and the people in it.”
That type of neighborly focus becomes even more important during difficult times, like those brought on by Covid. During the past year, Hammel and Republic Bank have worked with small business owners to secure the PPP loans that helped them survive the difficulties of the pandemic.
“Most people think about banking in the financial sense – money, economic wellbeing,” she says. “But it’s so much more personal than that. We look at our retail model with a customer focus, which allows us to connect with customers as people, not as numbers.”
It’s a mindset she brings to her relationship with colleagues as well.
“For me, being a leader is about more than increasing the bottom line,” says Hammel. “I’ve learned that from my mentors, like our chairman and CEO, Vernon Hill. You want to grow the business, but to do that you have to develop employees. I don’t want people just doing their jobs – I want to help them become passionate about meeting or exceeding our goals as an organization, as well as their personal goals. I want to inspire people to show up as their best selves in and out of work.”
What to Consider when Choosing Your Bank
Is it personal?
When choosing a bank, pick one that prioritizes you and your business on a personal level, says Hammel. “You want to be somewhere that focuses on the customers and relationships,” she says. “You don’t want to be treated as a number.”
Is it convenient?
The best banks will do everything in their power to make customer service as easy as possible, says Hammel. “Look for somewhere with long hours and 7-day banking, free checking, surcharge-free ATMs, mobile banking – things that make using the bank a hassle-free experience,” she says.
Is it local?
“When you’re in need of financing, it’s really important that you get funding quickly, and that the funding is local,” she says. “You want a bank that has a track record of supporting small businesses through easy and accessible loan processes. That’s how you know they’re a community advocate.”
