Bill Williams has been a banker in the Florida market for more than three decades. He’s worked for large, dominant market leaders as well as community banks. The variety gave him a chance to experience different bank cultures and customer bases. When he learned about INB possibly moving into the Florida market, he took his time studying the bank, its people and culture before coming on board as INB Senior Vice President, Commercial Banker. His expertise is in real estate lending.
“Every bank’s money is green,” Bill says. “It is the people, the culture, and a common-sense approach in our industry that carries the day. The bank’s tagline says it all: ‘We Make Banking Easy.’”
He adds, “INB will be a refreshing change in the Florida market. I am convinced INB will take Florida by storm!”
Bill joined the world of banking right out of college. “I thought working for a bank would introduce me to numerous different industries so I could decide what I would like to be when I grew up. Decades later, I’m still a banker and fully enjoy its ‘lens’ into so many interesting business people and ventures.”
Success Breeds Success
With tremendous success under his belt, Bill says his “secret sauce” to commercial lending is, “Do what you say you are going to do. Call them like you see them. People like transparency and honesty. Don’t play games.”
Bill’s success and experience in the Florida market drew INB to him.
- At Wachovia, he was awarded the President's Award as one of the two, top-producing commercial real estate relationship managers in Florida.
- At AmSouth, he earned the Bank Chairman's Award, given to employees performing within the top 10% of the bank.
- At Barnett Bank, he was named Relationship Manager of the Year, recognizing the bank’s top-producing commercial real estate manager.
A Memphis, TN native, Bill has called Tampa home for the last 32 years. He describes the business climate as “Huge! Tampa and Florida are benefiting from 1) no state income tax 2) great weather, beaches and entertainment 3) a good business environment. I am so lucky to have moved to Tampa.”
Bill is involved with two organizations that help him at his job. “REIC (Real Estate Investment Council) is a local real estate networking group that has strong participation from local real estate participants – good group. Then there’s ISCS -- the International Council of Shopping Centers – a big industry organization. I am a little less focused here – retail (other than grocery anchor centers) are experiencing their own issues in the new Amazon-dominated world.”
Just for Fun
When he’s not working, he loves to travel and play golf . . . “just not as much as I used to,” Bill says. With one granddaughter and a grandson on the way, he now uses his free time differently.
He might have more time for both his grandkids and travel if he had a superpower to get him from one place to another. So if he had a superpower, it would be “Being able to fly like Superman would work. Being able to wiggle my nose like Bewitched would also work to transport myself to different locations.”
And what vacation location would he consider a favorite? “I would have to say that my favorite vacation spot is somewhere I haven’t been. I’ve enjoyed over 6 trips to Europe – loved it; multiple trips in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Hawaii, Iceland, Jordan and the Caribbean Islands – loved it. But I have my sights on Nepal, New Zealand, China.
Connect with Bill Williams.