What do you like best about your line of work?

Definitely the people. I’m blessed to work with an incredible team that loves helping our customers reach their financial goals. Our culture is also extremely important to us. We enjoy each other’s company and that helps to build a first-class workplace.

What is your business’s biggest challenge?

We work in an environment where challenges come every day. As we shift into uncertain economic times, we stand ready to help our customers and community navigate the changing financial landscape.

What is your favorite pastime?

My wife, Catherine, and I have two children — Jack (15) and Ellie (12). They keep us busy with their extracurricular activities, but we love spending our downtime at the beach. We also enjoy following our beloved Gamecocks!

What are the latest developments/innovations in

your field?

The latest innovation that we are most excited about is our “embedded finance” offering called Maast! This new product will allow software providers to offer payments, deposits, lending, and more — as features in their software, under their own brand. So, clients can literally have a bank on their platform.

How does your company give back to the Columbia community?

Our company was founded on taking care of our neighbors. Our beginnings date back to a textile mill and a single act of kindness. Since then, we’ve continued to build on our heritage of service. For instance, we just completed a pilot program called Y.E.S. Camp, or Youth Entrepreneurial Summer Camp. Rising high school seniors in the Upward Bound summer program at Benedict College attended. It was designed to expose them to entrepreneurship, financial education, and essential life skills needed to become future successful leaders.

This is just one of many avenues we use to give back in ways that strengthen our community.