PEORIA MAGAZINE December 2022

P am Howe hasn’t always taken the conventional road, but as executive vice president of Commerce Bank in Peoria, that may be one of the secrets to her success. A native Peorian, Howe grew up as Pam Casper. She was valedictorian of her graduating classes at Bergan High School (1979, now Notre Dame) and Bradley University’s Foster College of Business (1983). “I credit those accomplishments to the early childhood education my older brother (Don) provided,” she said. “He had me reading and solving simple arithmetic before I entered kindergarten.”

“Pam has entered into a few roles that not many, or any, women ever held during her time at Commerce/ First National Bank,” said James Weekley, Commerce’s vice president of commercial banking. “Her approach to business is to use her intelligence to become an expert on whatever subject is presented so that she can be a resource both internally and externally. She serves as a fantastic role model to women and men alike who wish to be successful. She remains humble despite her success and serves as one of the bank’s strongest leaders year in and year out.” CULTURE COUNTS Howe credits her longevity at Commerce to the people and the culture. “My coworkers have become my best friends, my tutors, my counselors and my cheerleaders,” she said. “These relationships are grounded in the common values and guiding behaviors that are the foundationof theCommerce culture. We support, advocate for, and celebrate each other.” “Pam is a pure professional who has focused not only on building relationships with those internally here at Commerce, but dedicating her time and leadership to her community,” said WilliamPhillips, president of Commerce Bank in Bloomington/Normal. “Many of us can trace back the oppor tunities that we have seen in our careers back to the conversations and guidance she has provided us over the years.” GUIDING OTHERS Mentorship has played an important role in Howe’s career. “Mymentors have gently pushedme to step outside ofmy comfort zone and into the growth and learning zone. They have helped build my confidence, improve my interpersonal communications, and strengthen my decision-making. “The financial industry has long suffered from a negative reputation of beingverydifficult forwomentoadvance tosenior levels and thrive,”Howewent on

out fires’ with aplomb and ease. Since he was a successful banker, I wanted to be a banker, too. To this day, he is still one of my mentors.” PAVING THE WAY Most of Howe’s career has been on the lending side, but her foray into the banking world was a bit unconventional. After spending two years in collections and foreclosures for another institution, she was hired as a collection and repossession specialist for First National Bank of Peoria, now Commerce Bank. “At the time, thiswas a very uncommon position for a woman at any Midwest bank,” she said. “Bank leadership in the mid-1980s struggled with hiring a woman in the role of a hard-nosed debt collector.” Howe then moved on to become the bank’s first female consumer loan officer, followed by a position as a residential mortgage loan officer. One of the most pivotal points in her career, though, was becoming the first female commercial lending officer in Commerce’s Illinois market. “Commerce provided mortgage loans through its subsidiary, Commerce Mortgage Company. My colleague and I were given the option to join the mortgage company, but we preferred to stay with the bank, and there was one open position for a private banking officer and one for a commercial lending officer,” said Howe. “My colleague, the senior mortgage lender, chose the private banking gig. I jumped way out of my comfort zone to claim the commercial lending position, making me the first and only female in that role in Commerce’s Illinois market at that time.” After the bottom fell out of the real estate market in 2008, Howe needed to pivot. She chose to pursue another specialty in municipal and government banking, creating opportunities for her tocollaboratewithCommercebankers in other cities. Shortly thereafter, she was promoted to senior lender, and earlier this year, she was named commercial team lead for the Peoria market.

1977 Casper family portrait

Growing up, Howe‘s maternal grand mother livedwithher family. “Shewas an excellent rolemodel of anurturing family matriarch,” she explained. “From her I learned to cook, garden, sew, quilt and how to behave in church. Her presence allowed my mother to pursue a career outside the home. “From Mom (Delores), I learned pro fessional presence, the importance of customer service, and the value of financial independence.” Howe’s interest in banking was piqued at an early age. “My dad (Ken) was my first hero and role model,” she said. “I was a ‘daddy’s girl,’ so it was always a thrill to me to go to his office and observe him ‘putting

DECEMBER 2022 PEORIA MAGAZINE 41