Anthony Day began his career at First Southern Bank as a teller while attending Southeast Missouri State University. Drawn to the opportunities in lending, he made the transition from teller to lender, leveraging his growing expertise and natural ability to connect with people.
After completing his business degree, Anthony quickly distinguished himself by adopting a people-first approach, earning the trust and respect of his customers while making a meaningful impact on their financial journeys.
Thanks to his hard work and friendly nature, Anthony has become a key part of First Southern Bank’s community projects, and he’s not planning to stop anytime soon.
We caught up with Anthony to talk about his career path and future goals. Enjoy!
What does a typical “day in the life” look like for you professionally?
When someone approaches me with a loan request, whether it be for personal use or for a business, it starts with a conversation on what exactly they’re wanting to do. I always like to ask upfront what they’re comfortable repaying every month. My goal is to help everyone as much as I can, but I want to make sure that I don’t put them in a position that will end up hurting them financially.
After getting a plan in place, gathering all the necessary documents, and ordering whatever services are needed—such as title work or appraisals—my favorite part finally gets to take place. In my workday, there’s no greater joy than getting to sit down with a borrower and help them take the next step. Whether it’s purchasing their first car, home, or starting up a business they’ve always dreamed about, I get to be a part of the process.
What are some of the challenges or barriers you faced when you started lending?
One of the largest challenges when I started, and still to this day, is being known and having meaningful relationships with a large part of our community. I was 26 when I first started getting into the lending world, and the vast majority of my coworkers and peers in the industry had more experience than I had years alive.
All relationships, whether in business or in our personal lives, take time to develop trust and understanding between people. With as little exposure as I had starting out and being as young as I was, people were sometimes hesitant to have a great deal of confidence in my skill. This has already changed to an extent, and hopefully, it will continue.
What trends are you seeing emerge in the banking industry as we continue to hear whispers about recession and the middle class struggling to keep up with inflation?
At a time when most of the middle class is struggling to keep their heads above water financially, several trends are emerging in response to economic pressures like recession fears and inflation.
Enhanced risk management is a priority as economic uncertainty grows. Lending standards may be tightened, and risk assessment processes increased to mitigate potential defaults and offer more responsible borrowing options. Along with smarter lending practices, there has been an adaptation of interest rates. Customers may see improved savings rates, helping them save more effectively while navigating the challenges of inflation.
How do you stay passionate and energized about your work, even on challenging days?
With any line of work, there are always going to be days that seem to drag on and make it hard to keep going forward. Banking was not my first choice of career, but I was lucky enough to land at a place like First Southern Bank. I’ve got to credit the people I work with as a major reason why the days seem to fly by and why I still get enjoyment from the same essential work on a regular basis.
On top of just being good and fun people to be around, I am surrounded by a good group of mentors who have a lot of experience they are more than willing to share with anyone who’s willing to learn. I was told when I started that there was no glass ceiling here, and if I was willing to learn and put the work in, then I could advance as far as I wanted. Working here, there have always been new opportunities popping up to take advantage of.
Tell us something personal that some people may not know about you…
When I first approached First Southern Bank, I wasn’t looking for a job or a career at all. I was in my junior year studying accounting and I was looking for an internship that wouldn’t take me too far away from my family in Southern Illinois. I was familiar with some of the people in the organization and had grown up with John Dosier’s son Rob.
I reached out to Mr. Dosier about an internship and came in to speak with him about it. At that point, First Southern didn’t offer any internships, but he offered me a job as a teller and said that while studying, I could bounce around a few departments at the bank to see what might fit my interests. From there, I got attached to the people and the organization and never looked back.
How has helping out in the community impacted you?
Helping out in the community has profoundly impacted my personal development and perspective.
Growing up in Carbondale, my immediate family was my primary social circle, as much of my extended family resided elsewhere. However, I greatly valued the numerous opportunities to engage with the community around me. The diverse array of community events available during my upbringing instilled in me a deep appreciation for local culture and connections. These experiences not only enriched my childhood but also inspired me to give back to the community that has shaped who I am today.
What advice would you give to someone who’s hesitant about pursuing their career dreams due to fear of failure?
I would suggest embracing the perspective that hindsight is indeed 20/20. It’s far more fulfilling to look back on your experiences and acknowledge that you tried, even if the outcome wasn’t what you hoped, than to regret not taking the chance at all.
Every attempt is a valuable learning experience that can lead to personal growth and new opportunities. Taking that leap can ultimately lead to greater happiness and fulfillment than remaining in a state of uncertainty.
When you were a kid, how would you have answered the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Would the kid version of yourself be happy with how your career turned out?
As a kid, my aspirations were shaped significantly by my father, who served as the head professional at Hickory Ridge Golf Course. Surrounded by the golf community, I dreamed of becoming a professional golfer. My father’s role involved extensive engagement with the community, exemplified by initiatives such as the annual youth program “Hook-a-Kid on Golf” and various scrambles and fundraising events held at Hickory.
Reflecting on my career path, I believe that my younger self would find fulfillment in the journey I’ve undertaken, blending my passion for interacting with my community with the ability to give back to it.
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