Meet Megan, AVP, Consumer Loan Fulfillment Supervisor

On the Beneficial State Bank Team since: 2011 with Pan American Bank, which later merged with Beneficial State Bank

Based in: Central California

A Consumer Loan Fulfillment Supervisor supports many areas of auto lending at Beneficial State Bank. Megan oversees auto loan funding and refinancing, works with our auto dealer and refinance partners, troubleshoots issues that customers may be experiencing, verifies and funds auto loans, and provides support to her team.

What brought you to Beneficial State Bank?

After high school, I was looking for a full-time job, and I found one at Pan American Bank (which was later acquired by Beneficial State Bank). I started out as a file clerk and after six months I transitioned over to the loan side of banking. Around the time of the acquisition, I was thinking about how to grow in my banking career. After five years in lending, I transitioned to a retail banking supervisor. Today, I’m back working in lending, specializing in auto loans.

What about your past experience is helping you succeed in your role today?

Having a lending background and switching to retail taught me to sharpen the service side. I really honed my customer service skills working in retail banking. I am passionate about lending. Those skills combined have really helped me in my role.

What is a typical day like in your role?

I start the day with a good workout and some strong coffee. I drop my eldest kid at school and my youngest at daycare, then I start my day. Most of the time I work from home, though occasionally I work from our office.

The first thing I do in the morning is check in and see how my team is doing. If anyone needs anything, I help them with whatever has come up. I work closely with our refinance partners who help new clients find us. Throughout the day, I make various calls to customers and assist with any escalations. I keep an open door so our team knows they can come to me for help anytime.

What do you like best about your job?

I love being able to offer good products to our customers, and to help them get a good deal. A memorable moment for me was when a customer came to us to refinance a loan, and we helped him go from 20% interest to 8%. Beneficial State Bank’s commitment to fair pricing and our supportive auto lending team make these kinds of savings possible for our clients. When you’re doing what you love, it’s easy. I have the best management team behind me, cheering me on, and I love my team.

What has kept you at Beneficial State Bank all these years?

The best part of my job is knowing we are making a difference in our customers' daily lives. Everyone needs a car and a fair payment. Knowing we are giving that to them is a great feeling.

I have a lot of support at Beneficial State Bank to prioritize my mental health. I encourage my team to put their families and well-being first. For so many people, 2020 was challenging, given the state of the world. I took a break from work that year to focus on my mental health and some personal goals. I was grateful that I had the support of my supervisor and my employer to put my wellbeing first. When Charles [Elliott, SVP Consumer Lending Manager] called me to see if I wanted to come back, I felt ready and excited to come back to work.

What do you like to do outside of work?

I like hiking, spending time with my family, and helping at my church. I enjoy any kind of outdoor activity and spending time with friends. I am passionate about volunteering and love that Beneficial State Bank encourages volunteer opportunities. I help coordinate group volunteer opportunities at the local Family Crisis Center.

Do you have any advice for someone considering a career in the banking industry?

Banking is an important job. We help people with an important part of their life: their money. My advice is to take pride in what you do because you are making a difference, no matter what your position is. And most importantly, be humble. You never know how your career can develop. Be mindful of the bank you choose to work for. It really can make an impact on the world that we live in.

This interview was conducted and written by Sierra Carroll, Beneficial State Bank's Customer Service Representative based in Oregon.