Meet Richard, Senior Relationship Director at Secure Trust Bank Real Estate Finance:
1. How long have you worked at Secure Trust Bank?
I have worked on the Real Estate Finance team at Secure Trust Bank since 2015.
2. What has your career path been up to now?
Prior to joining Secure Trust Bank, I spent almost 28 years at Royal Bank of Scotland in various retail, business, commercial and real estate finance roles. Next year will mark my ten-year anniversary at Secure Trust Bank. Time really does fly!
3. What are the main responsibilities of your role?
My main responsibilities as a Senior Relationship Director include portfolio risk management and acting as a senior debt provider. Identifying and mitigating the risks of every deal we encounter is key to ensuring a successful outcome. The three decades' worth of invaluable experience I have under my belt certainly helps this!
My wider responsibilities involve the day-to-day management of complex facilities, such as residential investment and development loans.
4. What is the best thing about being part of the Secure Trust Bank team?
What I most enjoy about working at Secure Trust Bank is having the freedom to be yourself and to be able to get on with your day-to-day responsibilities. It's a perfect balance of teamwork and independence which is often hard to come by.
5. What is the most worthwhile lesson you have learnt in your career so far?
Back in 1989, which was a very difficult time for the UK economy, my first boss asked me whether I would still do the deal with a prospective customer if I was asked to lend my own money. He said that if after considering the CAMPARI model (Character, Ability, Means, Purpose, Amount, Repayment, Insurance), my head said yes to the character and ability parts, then I should proceed further, and I could then use the bank's money if the 'MPARI' part was acceptable too.
If their character and ability didn't feel quite right but the MPARI did, then I should challenge myself as to the reasons why I should be using the bank's money, as I probably wouldn't use my own if the judgement of character and ability came with unmitigated risks.
To assess and judge an individual by engaging in conversations with them is probably more important to the decision-making process than repayment or security. Essentially, if your character, ability assessment, and gut feeling is strong, then you'd probably lend your own money and be comfortable in the knowledge you've backed the right people. I've kept this with me from that very moment, and still apply the same technique to every deal I come across.
6. What are three things on your bucket list?
- To go on a British & Irish Lions rugby tour to New Zealand
- Walk as much of the 630-mile stretch of South West Coast Path as I can with my dogs!
- Retire to North Devon
7. Do you have a favourite sports team?
I do - I'm an avid Rugby Union fan and my favourite team is Rams RFC.