Florida Banking May 2023

The Intercredit Bank management team. Sitting, from left: Simon Cruz, President and CEO, and William Garzozi, Chief Credit Officer. Standing, from left: Javier Montero, Chief Technology Officer, Dalmys Alonso, International Banking, Javier Martinez, Interim CFO, and Matthew Cordis, COO.

at Intercredit Bank prioritizes culture fit. There hasn’t been any turnover at the senior management level in 10 years. “You want to have knowledgeable, professional employees that enjoy coming into work and embrace the camaraderie,” Cruz said. “I thrive on bringing people together and inspiring them to do their thing.” At the heart of the bank’s values is what Cruz calls “impeccable integrity,” a heightened sense of responsibility not only to oneself but also to others. Intercredit Bank strives to be a good global steward within its community, and that mission starts at the top. The bank’s parent company in Ecuador has a foundation that gives back to its community, with the goal of improving people’s lives through housing opportunities, local development and environmental sustainability. The team at Intercredit Bank never loses sight of its important role within the community and is proud to represent an industry which has such an impact on the financial lives of its customers. “It’s phenomenal to meet interesting people who have started businesses that transform their families or communities all because somebody in a bank decided, ‘you know what, I’m going to back you,’” Cruz said. “Banking is about community.”

Intercredit Bank, Continued from page 8

community and within the industry, Cruz has served as a board member of the School of International Public Affairs (SIPA) at Florida International University and as a past Director of the Florida Bankers Association’s (FBA) School of Banking. He is presently a member of the Board of Directors of the American Bankers Association (ABA) and board member of the Center for Financial Training at Miami-Dade College. As CEO, Cruz enjoys creating a positive, uplifting culture for employees and bank customers alike. While his role requires him to think big picture, Cruz also pays attention to the details, such as using his eye for interior design to create a collaborative and comfortable office space and paying in-person visits to each bank branch. Each branch is led by managers who have lived in the community for many years; customers still follow the traditional banking model and visit the branches to take care of their business and enjoy coffee and pastries. Cruz looks to hire people who have a “good heart.” As a recruiter once explained to Cruz himself (who did not have a math or finance background), “I can teach you how to add and subtract, but I can’t teach you how to think.” Neither, Cruz went on to elaborate, can you teach someone how to be a good person. Recruiting

10 — FLORIDA BANKING THE VOICE OF FLORIDA BANKING