Who is Chris Dickens?
Well, first off, I don’t believe my ancestry ties back to the English Writer, Charles Dickens. But Charles is my Father’s name, so I do have that going for me.
I was born and raised in the inner-city of Detroit, MI. I grew up thinking that I would somehow have a career in the auto industry. Since I didn’t have an inside track to get into the industry, that idea became a thing of the past.
In my teen years, I developed an interest in money. Not necessarily making money (although the idea appealed to me) but more of an interest in our financial system, stocks and technology. My high school co-op business teacher introduced me to the world of banking by setting up an interview for me at National Bank of Detroit. My parents encouraged me to “get my foot in the door” and learn as much as possible. I thought I would go to work to pay for my car insurance on my 1977 Chevy Caprice, and nothing more really. I was a sponge – absorbing as much banking knowledge as I could.
I’ve been involved in just about every facet of commercial banking. I was a data entry clerk, portfolio manager, loan officer, operations enthusiast and everything in-between. Fast forward 25+ years and I land at Core Bank with the opportunity to lead the SBA Operations in Kansas City.
I’m extremely grateful to work with a team of honest, hard-working people. They inspire me to continue to feed my thirst for knowledge and achievement. Even better, I get to help our bank provide the best customer experience through our collaborative team approach. Helping small business owners fulfill their American Dream is something I’m passionate about. And I get to do that at Core Bank.