Florida Banking August/September 2025

FACES OF THE FOUNDATION

MEET SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT MARCEL PADRON

F lorida Bankers Educational Foundation (FBEF) Scholarship recipient Marcel Padron knows hard work and education are integral to career success. Padron started with First Bank, Clewiston, in 2017, working as a teller. He came about the job by chance. “After high school, I enrolled in college as a finance major because I’ve always been passionate about the business world,” Padron said. “While in school, I wanted to find a job related to finance that would give me real industry experience. That’s when I came across an opening for a teller position at a local community bank. It was perfect – it allowed me to earn money for college while also gaining hands-on experience.” Padron began paying close attention to how the bank operated. His finance classes gave him a strong foundation, he said, but working at the bank helped

him connect what he was learning in school to real world applications. “I saw firsthand how banks impact communities, from serving people to helping businesses grow,” Padron said. “That’s when I realized banking wasn’t just a job, it was a career with real purpose.” After completing a bachelor’s degree in finance, Padron continued to grow in his career at the bank. He worked as a teller until he graduated; after earning his finance degree, he applied for an opening as a loan-servicing specialist. He was grateful, he said, for the opportunity to step into that role. “From that point on, I made it my mission to learn as much as possible about banking,” he said. “I wanted to show my dedication and eagerness to grow. After a year, I transitioned into an accounting clerk position, where I discovered my passion for the accounting side of banking.” Padron was amazed

at how much he learned during the first year in his new role and realized the accounting aspect of banking was his true passion. Since continuing his education would help his growth in the banking industry, Padron applied for FBEF funding that would help him return to college. “Thanks to the FBEF scholarship, I was able to go back to school and earn my accounting degree, which has had a huge

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