photos by: MEGAN SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY
In today’s fast-paced, technology driven world, the personal touch has gotten lost in many of our former face-to-face interactions. With ease of access in areas like banking, you can become a number and not be known by your name; in many instances, putting a name to a face is almost impossible. Encore Bank differentiates itself from other banks on a personalized, concierge-style, banking experience tailored to individuals, business owners and entrepreneurs. Headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, Encore Bank now has branches in seven states and 17 markets with the goal of being a customer-centric bank. In March of 2023, Encore Bank opened a branch in Winston-Salem, located in the Innovation Quarter, near Bailey Park.
Old School Banking with a Personal Touch
When Encore Bank started in 2019, its founders were focused on building something different, with the purchase of a small bank in Little Rock, Arkansas, the branches of Encore Bank started to spread.
Leigha S. Smith, SVP market president for Encore Bank in Winston-Salem, knows the banking industry well, having worked in it for more than 30 years and has seen the many evolutions of community banks, but Encore Bank is so different in its approach and business model, that the position with Encore Bank brought Leigha out of retirement.
“About a year into my retirement, I took some time to check up on some friends I had met in banking, and one of my former colleagues posted online that he had taken a position as the Carolinas executive for Encore Bank. I sent him a message of congratulations and was intrigued because I had never heard of Encore Bank and asked him to get in touch when he had a moment. That was the beginning of my journey with Encore Bank. I liked the idea behind it – customer-centered banking, old school, the way it used to be, along with the opportunity to build my own bank branch from the ground up. I couldn’t turn down such a special opportunity,” said Leigha.
A Family Feel, Inside and Out
Once Leigha was onboard with Encore Bank, she continued the legacy that the original founders had, which was to handpick a team that shared the same view of putting clients at the forefront of banking.
“When I started building the Winston-Salem branch of Encore Bank, I wanted to build a team of colleagues who shared the belief of putting the ‘personal’ back in personal banking. At Encore Bank, we strive to make everything about banking easier for our clients. We want to bring back the days of knowing your banker and us knowing our clients, by their names and always being available to address their questions or concerns. With Encore Bank, our communications with our clients are always personal…it’s important that you know us, and we know you. Having a personal number for your banker makes all the difference when you need to access your account. We have an 800 number because we are required to have one by regulations, but if you are my client, I want to be your one and only contact; but you will also be familiar and know the Encore team, so if I am away, the client can depend on someone to help them,” Leigha commented.
Beyond the focus of building personal relationships with clients, should you visit Encore Bank in person, you will notice a different look and feel.
Not Your Regular Brick and Mortar Bank
Encore Bank is located on the second floor of Bailey South in the downtown area known as Innovation Quarter, with a beautiful view of Bailey Park, but that’s only where the differences begin.
“At Encore Bank, when you come to our branch, you are greeted with a real, live person in our offices. You won’t find a line at a teller’s window, but you will find a space that is open, comfortable and inviting. The goal is to make banking easy including making sure clients can use any ATM in the US with no service charge fees. We partner with financial technology companies to create the best banking experience for our clients. Beyond the walls of our offices, our team members are very involved in the community, giving back whether that is through cleaning a roadway or charities like Make-A-Wish. Putting clients first doesn’t stop at day’s end; we continue making differences in the lives of our clients. That is what Encore Bank is all about,” Leigha stated.
Encore Bank is located at 450 N. Patterson St, Suite 200, Winston-Salem, NC. For more information, visit bankencore.com or call 336.200.8471. Hours of operation are Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
