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Gail Donovan takes a walk through downtown New Canaan nearly every day, weather permitting. She says thats just part of her job as a community banker.
I think I know every one of our customers names, first and last. You get to know them, Donovan says in a small conference room at the Bank of New Canaan.
A daily stroll through downtown helps her keep connected to the community, and Donovan says that is an important part of being a local banker. The personal contact isnt hurting: The Bank of New Canaan is closing on the top slot in town for volume on deposits.
Donovans connection to New Canaan goes beyond her professional role. She moved to town 18 years ago to raise her then-2-year-old son and soon-to-be-born daughter. She commuted to Manhattan to work in the finance industry before settling into community banking five years ago.
In New Canaan, Donovan has helped organize and run lacrosse and soccer programs. During the sidewalk sales, she happily sat at the banks booth and greeted people. As her children grew up, she helped with school functions.
You bring them into this world so you have to take care of them, Donovan says, after admitting running a professional life and a family was at times a Herculean challenge that she was happy to accept. I had to make it all work.
Inside the bank of New Canaan, where she went to work two years ago as a branch manager, Donovans desk is out on the main floor. The human touch is important to Donovan, who says every time a customer calls the bank he or she gets a real person. Often she answers their questions herself. I think the customers feel very comfortable that we know them, and in turn they know us, says Donovan.
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