Editor’s note: Answering  The Purcell Register’s five questions this week is Brett Duke, AVP/Financial Center Manager at First United Bank in Purcell.

Q: How did you get into banking?

A: I was looking to start a different career path at the time and I noticed a financial institution was hiring. I knew my great grandma was an assistant bank president in North Oklahoma City back in the day so figured I would give it a try.  I worked there for a few years until eventually getting hired into First United Bank. I tell everyone who asks banking found me.

Q: What’s your favorite part of the job?

A: Developing genuine relationships within the community and helping my employee’s advance through their career. How can I help the individuals and community around me become better. Whether it’s volunteering my time or being a resource. .

Q: What is the most challenging part of your job?

A: I would say seeing customer’s going through difficult times of their lives. A lot of people think about banking and don’t consider the side where we see individuals lose their loved ones. The times we see individuals struggling to pay their bills. These are the hardest moments for me to see each day.

Q: What’s changed about the industry?

I believe all the new technology that has been incorporated into banking. We have a new product called ClickSwitch where we can move the customer’s social security or automated bill’s within a short period of time to a new account. In the past, the customer would have to directly go in person to social security office or call each company who they set automated payments up with. The rate environment has been declining over the past six years and now we’re in an environment offering high interest to customers.

Q: What do you like to do when you are not at work

A: I like to fish, spend time with my wife and two kids, coach tee ball, and cook on my smoker.