fbpx

Brick by Brick

Helping to guide the evolution of a community bank that began doing business from a converted mobile home in Conway, Arkansas, into a financial institution managing more than $17 billion of wealth across the southeast United States, David Druey knows first-hand how gaining financial insight and fostering community relationships can pave the way for prosperity.

After a stint as a scuba diving instructor once he earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Mississippi in 1994, an interest in the financial field beckoned. Wanting a more stable career path and not exactly sure which industry to explore, he found himself at Northwest Financial Corp. in Jackson, Mississippi, for a very simple reason.

“They hired me,” he says.

After his tenure in Mississippi, Druey began working as a loan officer in 1998 at Centennial Bank, where he watched the bricks being laid on the bank’s first branch and quickly climbed the corporate ladder to become its regional president based in Pompano Beach.

Experiencing the transformation of a small community bank barely capable of lending $5 million, to an institution managing more than $17 billion in wealth, didn’t happen overnight—and neither does developing the relationships that made it possible.

“Sometimes, you want to pinch yourself,” he says. “We were just going to be a small community bank in Conway, and we couldn’t even fathom or imagine having that in 1998.”

Working for a community bank that was trying to establish itself while simultaneously growing in an unfamiliar industry didn’t afford Druey any room to make mistakes. During the initial stages of his banking career in Arkansas, he encountered what he calls his “career loan.”

A local business was looking to construct a new facility, and Druey knew the owner and industry well. The loan was close to the bank’s legal lending limit at the time, so any slip-up could cost the bank its lending prowess. While the loan was risky if the borrower defaulted, Druey had a rapport with the executive, who assured him the construction loan could be repaid regardless of how the business performed.

“It’s kind of like a black-swan event like COVID,” Druey says. “You would never underwrite to COVID, but then COVID happened. We built it and then this particular industry shut down for a period of time and I still remember them calling and saying, ‘Hey, we’re not opening.’ And then they said, ‘But just like you and I have already discussed, it’s OK because we’re going to still be able to make the payments and uphold our obligations.’ That was one of those a-ha moments of how important character is when you’re loaning somebody money.”

Having the backing of one of the most successful community banks in the country allows Druey to enjoy every aspect of his work now. Whether it’s reviewing commercial and residential properties with clients, negotiating loan terms with an entrepreneur trying to open a hotel in Pompano Beach, or sourcing funding for a developer looking to build a 200-apartment complex on Florida’s west coast, Druey revels in the variety of day-to-day responsibilities and the eclectic roster of clients he interacts with.

“The ability to be able to understand and comprehend all those businesses and try to help people figure out ways to do what they want to do is something that always made it fun,” he says. “This is one of the few jobs that you are as knowledgeable about so many different businesses and specialties because you help educate each other on what to look for and build that relationship.”

While crafting those relationships over the years, Druey has noticed one area severely lacking in society—financial literacy. “The single most important thing that we are failing to teach our children is how to do adulting. How to balance a checkbook, how to understand how utilities work, how to understand what a payment is, how to understand what your debt-to-income ratio is, how to save, how to learn about time, value, money—we are not teaching those kids how to do those things,” Druey says.

To strengthen financial literacy in the community, Druey and Centennial Bank partnered with GreenPath Financial Wellness, a financial wellness nonprofit organization, and Banzai Inc., an interactive course on real-world finance, to fill the practical educational hole many people in society fall through. The partnership aims to provide resources and financial education to empower those most lacking in financial expertise—home buyers, students and retirees.

“As bankers,” Druey says, “we see the gap, and we’re doing our best to try to fill that gap the best way we can.”

You May Also Like
Navigating Tax Changes

The estate exemption will be going back to previous levels.

Read More
Tax Changes
Banesco USA Achieves Landmark Achievement With Assets Exceeding $4 Billion

The community bank has seven locations between South Florida and Puerto Rico.

Read More
Banesco USA
Stephanie Green at the Forefront of Fifth Third Bank’s Rapid Growth in South Florida

JD Power ranks it as the top bank in Florida for customer satisfaction.

Read More
Stephanie Green
City National Bank of Florida Introduces National Capital Markets Group

It will offer capabilities in the capital market by providing structured financial solutions.

Read More
Capital Markets Group
Other Posts
Guy Harvey Foundation Hosts Fundraising Gala to Support Ocean Conservation Efforts

The 16th annual event will be held on Oct. 30.

Read More
Guy Harvey Foundation
Mareva 1939 Tempts Diners With Delectable Spanish Dishes in Miami Beach

The Spanish-stylish restaurant is located at The National Hotel.

Read More
Mareva 1939
A Modern Dining Ambiance With a View Greets Visitors at Universal Orlando Resort’s Aventura Hotel’s Bar 17 Bistro

The venue is a great place to visit when enjoy the local theme parks.

Read More
Universal Orlando Resort
Limo Miami Sets the Standard for Upscale and Stylish Transportation Services

Those looking for a new transportation method have a luxurious option.

Read More
Limo Miami

Drew Limsky

Drew Limsky

Editor-in-Chief

BIOGRAPHY

Drew Limsky joined Lifestyle Media Group in August 2020 as Editor-in-Chief of South Florida Business & Wealth. His first issue of SFBW, October 2020, heralded a reimagined structure, with new content categories and a slew of fresh visual themes. “As sort of a cross between Forbes and Robb Report, with a dash of GQ and Vogue,” Limsky says, “SFBW reflects South Florida’s increasingly sophisticated and dynamic business and cultural landscape.”

Limsky, an avid traveler, swimmer and film buff who holds a law degree and Ph.D. from New York University, likes to say, “I’m a doctor, but I can’t operate—except on your brand.” He wrote his dissertation on the nonfiction work of Joan Didion. Prior to that, Limsky received his B.A. in English, summa cum laude, from Emory University and earned his M.A. in literature at American University in connection with a Masters Scholar Award fellowship.

Limsky came to SFBW at the apex of a storied career in journalism and publishing that includes six previous lead editorial roles, including for some of the world’s best-known brands. He served as global editor-in-chief of Lexus magazine, founding editor-in-chief of custom lifestyle magazines for Cadillac and Holland America Line, and was the founding editor-in-chief of Modern Luxury Interiors South Florida. He also was the executive editor for B2B magazines for Acura and Honda Financial Services, and he served as travel editor for Conde Nast. Magazines under Limsky’s editorship have garnered more than 75 industry awards.

He has also written for many of the country’s top newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, Boston Globe, USA Today, Worth, Robb Report, Afar, Time Out New York, National Geographic Traveler, Men’s Journal, Ritz-Carlton, Elite Traveler, Florida Design, Metropolis and Architectural Digest Mexico. His other clients have included Four Seasons, Acqualina Resort & Residences, Yahoo!, American Airlines, Wynn, Douglas Elliman and Corcoran. As an adjunct assistant professor, Limsky has taught journalism, film and creative writing at the City University of New York, Pace University, American University and other colleges.