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Money Matters: Harnessing Bank Relationships for Nonprofit Success with Andrew Lee
Episode 22 • 13th January 2026 • The NonProfit Nook • Wendy Kidd
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In this episode of The NonProfit Nook, host Wendy Kidd is joined by Andrew Lee from First United Bank to discuss the importance of cultivating strong relationships between nonprofits and their banks. With nearly 18 years of banking experience, Andrew highlights key benefits and strategies for nonprofits, emphasizing the importance of open communication and understanding the organization's needs. He also shares practical advice on financial management, internal controls, and common mistakes to avoid. This episode provides valuable insights for nonprofit leaders seeking to strengthen their financial foundation.

Links:

Andrew’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-l-b360892b?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

https://www.bosslevelengaged.com/services-for-nonprofits-nonprofitnook

https://thenonprofitnook.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@BossLevelEngaged


00:00 Introduction to Open Communication in Nonprofits

00:21 Welcome to The NonProfit Nook

01:05 Introducing Andrew Lee from First United Bank

01:50 Building Relationships with Your Banker

03:54 Benefits of Having a Go-To Banker

06:09 Common Mistakes Nonprofits Make

13:34 The Importance of Internal Controls

18:24 Key Moments to Consult Your Banker

18:54 The Role of Community Banks

20:13 Identifying Green Flags in Banks

21:38 Purpose in a Pocket: First United's Community Commitment

23:04 The Importance of Nonprofit-Banker Relationships

29:04 Supporting Small Nonprofits

30:32 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

32:31 Conclusion and Contact Information

Mentioned in this episode:

Enji

Benevolate

Transcripts

Andrew Lee:

You know, I think the biggest thing you can say to a nonprofit is don't

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be, don't be afraid of open communication.

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Don't be afraid to ask

those hard questions.

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Um, just come in and

let's have a conversation.

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If you leave without opening an account,

if you leave without, even if, if you took

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something away from that, that meeting

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mm-hmm.

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Then we have, we have done our job.

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Wendy Kidd: Welcome to The NonProfit

Nook, the podcast for nonprofit

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leaders, board members, and community

change makers who want to build

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stronger, smarter organizations.

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I'm your host, Wendy Kidd, a longtime

business owner and nonprofit leader.

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And I'm here to bring you real talk,

real tools and real stories to help

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you thrive in the nonprofit world.

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I'll be talking with local nonprofit

leaders, community change makers,

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and experts in everything from board

development to fundraising and digital

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tools, sharing real stories and simple

strategies you can actually use,

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because running a nonprofit is hard,

but you don't have to do it alone.

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Let's get started.

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Today I am excited to welcome

Andrew Lee with First United Bank.

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Andrew has nearly 18 years of experience

in banking and has spent the last

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seven years with First United leading

retail banking across DFW markets,

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including McKinney and Denton.

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He holds an MBA from Texas A&M

University, Texarkana, and is deeply

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committed to leadership and service.

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Andrew has served as treasurer

for Volunteer McKinney for three

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years and for the Melissa Chamber

of Commerce for four years.

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And he's completed the Foundational

Leadership Course through

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Stagen Leadership Academy with a

passion for mentoring, community

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impact, and developing people.

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I'm excited to have Andrew on the podcast.

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Welcome, Andrew.

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Andrew Lee: Well, thank you for having

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Wendy Kidd: me.

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Oh, of course.

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Yeah.

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I was so excited when you said yes.

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Andrew Lee: I was so excited when

you offered for me to come on.

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That's

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Wendy Kidd: fantastic.

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Yeah.

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Well, uh, I asked you on, and I

just so you know, you listeners know

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I asked Andrew on, because I feel

like there's a disconnect sometimes.

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Mm-hmm.

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With.

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Nonprofits understanding how to have

a good relationship with a bank and

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what that kind of brings to the table.

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Uh, you know, as a small business

owner, we're taught to, to have that

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relationship and what the perks and

the businesses are and you know how to

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go about it and what banks are good.

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But I don't think nonprofits are really.

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Educated on that, so I'm so happy

you're here to do some of that today.

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Well, thank you.

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Thank you.

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Thank you.

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Yeah.

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Andrew Lee: Happy to talk about it.

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Wendy Kidd: Well, okay,

so let's, let's jump in.

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Okay.

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So then when people here build a

relationship with your banker, what does

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that actually look like in real life?

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For a nonprofit,

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Andrew Lee: I mean, for anybody.

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I mean, not, not just thinking

out a nonprofit, it's just

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getting to know who they are, you

know, who, who they're serving.

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Um, what they are as an

organization, whether it's a

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business, a person, or a nonprofit.

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Um, we want to know who you are

and like build that relationship.

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We're a relationship type bank, so Right.

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It's not

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Wendy Kidd: just a transaction

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Andrew Lee: and it's

not just a transaction.

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Yeah.

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And that would be the, the

transaction will be the last

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thing that we, that we would say.

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Yeah.

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Wendy Kidd: Yeah.

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I mean, how do you, how do you go

about building that relationship?

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Andrew Lee: It's about sitting down

and listening to the person and get

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to, getting to know where they are.

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Mm-hmm.

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We wanna know all about your organization.

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The, when we invite you in it is

basically to get to know who you are.

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Yeah.

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Get to know what your nonprofit serves.

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Um, what are you gonna do

for the, for the community?

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Um, that's what we want to hear.

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It.

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We, we will talk about banking,

but that's the, that's gonna be at

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the back end of the conversation.

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Wendy Kidd: Yeah.

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So red flag, if your banker

is not inviting you in

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Andrew Lee: Yeah,

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Wendy Kidd: that's a red flag.

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We're

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Andrew Lee: coming to you.

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We're inviting you in.

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We are, because our bank wants you

to be, we want you to immerse into

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the experience of the bank, but.

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We're gonna invite you in.

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We're going, we're going to come to you,

whatever makes whatever is best for you.

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Mm-hmm.

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Yeah.

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The, the customer, the, the

nonprofit, whoever it is.

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Wendy Kidd: Yeah.

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So what are some of the biggest ways a

nonprofit kind of benefits from having

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that go-to banker, that person that,

you know, like me, I could text you.

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Yeah.

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What, what's the benefits that they

can think of texting, you know,

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Andrew Lee: like, you know,

that's, that's a one benefit.

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I actually wrote that down.

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Um, is.

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Texting your banker, getting, having

that connection, having being able

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to ask those questions that you're

afraid that you can't walk into, you

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know, a bigger bank and say, Hey,

you know, like, what about this?

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You bouncing those ideas off of them,

you know, saying, Hey, you know,

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I, I don't have a lot of money, but

we're, we're just getting started.

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You know, those type things

like where you really want to

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ask and peel back those layers.

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Yeah.

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We are the bank to do that with

because we're, we're not scared for

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you to ask those questions, you know?

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Right,

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Wendy Kidd: right.

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You know, I like, I, I can say

this because Andrew and I have this

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relationship, but I'll be like, Hey,

I can't figure out, do you guys take

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Zelle or how do I do this on the portal?

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But, you know, I think it goes

so much further than that.

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Like you said, it's, you know,

we can come to you with Yeah.

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I've, I've had a cashflow problem.

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What do I do?

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Yeah.

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Uh, I've had, I, I've had this

opportunity, but I don't know

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how to take advantage of it.

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Mm-hmm.

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Or do you know a better way that I can

manage my money so I'm reporting it

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correctly, you know, things like that.

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Andrew Lee: Definitely like

we, we have those solutions

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in everything you just said.

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Yeah.

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Um, whether it's like you, you

have a cashflow problem and we need

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to sit there and work through it.

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Like, where is the problem?

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Let's sit there and dissect, you

know, where your money's going.

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Yeah.

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You know, like a lot of, a lot of

nonprofits especially don't really know

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where they're spending their money.

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No.

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And like, is there a solution that

could really benefit them better?

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Yeah.

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Uh.

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Not even, is it just the software

they're using or just, or the tools that

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they're using, but like where, like,

or could there be a, is there, is, is

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there something that could be changed

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mm-hmm.

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Within their, their ecosystem

that could, you know, really?

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You know, save them, save them

money, or even make them more money.

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Wendy Kidd: Yeah.

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Well, and I, I think a lot of people

in nonprofits when they first get

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started, they also have no idea if

they have never owned a business.

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They have no idea what banking

looks like for a business.

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No, no.

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Or much less a nonprofit.

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So what's some of the common,

well, there's some of the

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mistakes that people make.

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Andrew, tell

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Andrew Lee: us a little bit about team.

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I think going too fast.

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Mm-hmm.

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Going way too fast.

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Um, wanting to grow too fast.

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Mm-hmm.

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There's nothing wrong with growing slow.

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There's nothing wrong with that.

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Um, I think taking baby steps,

really doing your research.

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Um, many times I, you know, have

seen a lot of nonprofits that the,

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the passion outweighs all the,

everything else, which is great.

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Don't lose that passion, but you

gotta understand how to make that

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work for you because your passion

could get you in trouble sometimes.

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Um, truth happens to all of us.

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It happens to all of us.

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It does.

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I mean, like, I, you know, will

be the first to tell you I get.

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Gungho, I have an idea, I run for it, and

then I gotta like, oh, I gotta slow down.

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I gotta make this happen.

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I've gotta like really slow down and

really see how this can be a reality.

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Yeah.

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You know, like I want it to happen

in a year, but is it feasible

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for my organization, for my

nonprofit to be done in a year?

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Yeah.

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So I mean, the second thing

I would say is communication.

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Having those open conversations with your

ins, your banking institution, because we

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have so many resources that we can plug

you into that could really benefit you

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conversations with other local nonprofits.

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Sure.

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Um.

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Having worked with other nonprofits

and kind of like telling, telling them

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like, you know, what has worked and what

hasn't worked, uh, what we've seen, what

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works in the market that they're in.

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Mm-hmm.

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Who are they serving, you know?

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Mm-hmm.

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Is, are, do they, do they, is

that nonprofit oversaturated in

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this market, but not over here?

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You know, we're, my bank

is spread out through DFW.

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Different, different markets

serve different types of non,

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uh, different nonprofits serve

different types of clientele.

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Like, you know, Dallas is a little

bit different than McKinney.

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Um, so I see it all.

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Yeah.

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You know, I've, I've, like I said, you

said earlier, I've served both in the

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Denton and McKinney markets completely

different over there in, in Denton.

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Oh yeah.

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Similar but different.

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Yeah.

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You know, um, university town, uh, you

know, different things we're serving.

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Um, so.

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You've gotta really ask those questions.

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Mm-hmm.

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Communicate with your banker,

having that open dialogue.

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Wendy Kidd: Yeah.

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That's, don't be afraid.

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Don't, don't be afraid

to come to the bank.

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They've seen it all folks.

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They've seen it all.

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We've seen it all.

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The good, the bad, the

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Andrew Lee: ugly.

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You should not be afraid to ask.

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And, and, and if you are afraid, if you

feel, if you feel like you can't ask those

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questions, you're not at the right bank.

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Wendy Kidd: Yeah.

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Andrew Lee: You're not at the red bank.

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Wendy Kidd: Yeah.

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For sure.

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Yeah.

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So are they, and I know that I didn't

give you this question beforehand,

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so I'm asking you on the spot.

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So who are they looking for at the

bank to develop a relationship?

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What kind of job titles are

they looking for at their bank?

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Who should they be talking to?

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Andrew Lee: I mean, my, my staff.

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I want, I want them to be your go-to.

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I want myself, I want my spend

life wisely, ambassador Denise.

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Mm-hmm.

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I want anybody that you

walk into the lobby.

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I want them to feel like family.

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Mm.

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Okay.

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Uh, and

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that's, that's, that's how I,

you know, coach my bankers,

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um, to, to be, be a family.

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I want them to know you by name.

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Mm-hmm.

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I want you to come in.

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I want them to be like, if I'm not there.

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Oh, I'm gonna go talk to so and so.

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Wendy Kidd: Right.

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You know?

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Right.

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Andrew Lee: And they're, and

they're gonna take care of me.

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I, you know, that's, I

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Wendy Kidd: think that's a good

tip because there's so many times

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you walk into these banks and you

don't, you don't know who they are.

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If you don't, if you don't know the

person who you're trying to talk to.

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Mm-hmm.

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Or if you don't know what product

specifically it relates to, they

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kinda look at you like, well

then who do you wanna talk to?

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Andrew Lee: We, we have at

our bank, we, they're called

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relationship bankers for a reason.

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Not even on the lend, not e,

not even on the retail side.

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It's, it's on the lending

and the retail side, both.

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Mm-hmm.

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It, we are re a relationship type bank.

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We want to get to know you

on that level to where Yeah.

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We know what your banking situation is.

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Yeah.

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But what else is going on in your life?

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Wendy Kidd: Yeah.

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Andrew Lee: What, how, how does

your business running, you know,

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how can we support you as a whole?

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Wendy Kidd: Yeah.

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Andrew Lee: Because that's who we are.

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Wendy Kidd: Yeah.

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So, okay.

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I'm gonna ask you to, to

spill a little t Okay.

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And, and tell me some mistakes

you've seen people make that

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could have been prevented.

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Andrew Lee: Oh

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Wendy Kidd: my gosh.

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Andrew Lee: Um,

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Wendy Kidd: goodness.

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I mean, I can throw some

at you if you want me to.

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Oh, throw 'em at me.

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Throw

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' Andrew Lee: em at me.

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Yeah.

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I've probably seen them,

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Wendy Kidd: I mean, I, something that

I have seen a lot in nonprofits, Uhhuh,

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if they don't have a clear process

as to who should be the signer, who

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should have access to the accounts.

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Andrew Lee: You, you need to

really have that again, back to

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a conversation you have with your

banker or within your organization.

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You should know who's gonna

be on there beforehand.

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Yeah.

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If you're new, I get that you're

probably not gonna weed that out.

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That is a conversation that you

can have with me and saying, Hey,

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this is traditionally what I see

in an organization, your size.

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You're, um, but, and

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Wendy Kidd: I think that

the experience is valuable.

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It very valuable, especially because

they don't know what should be.

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So they could come to you and

they could say, Hey, oh yeah, who

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should be signers on my account?

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You know, I, I think another thing

that I see is they don't have any

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kind of idea how to use the accounts

correctly to bank professionally.

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I should put it that way.

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You know, they commingle their funds.

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They, yes.

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They just have one checking

account they use for everything.

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There's no such thing as a

savings account, you know?

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Andrew Lee: I've seen a little bit

of everything, um, in that regard.

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Um, it's nothing wrong with having one

account, but when you get to a certain

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level and you start getting in donor

checks and you're starting to get in,

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like grants and all that type, and

you start co-mingling those funds,

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you really need to educate yourself

on, like, especially for grants.

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I mean, you have to, you have to

certain, certain types of grants.

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Not all grants, but you have to use

that money in a, in a structured

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way specified by the grant.

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Wendy Kidd: Yes.

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Andrew Lee: And so.

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That's, that's a conversation that in

a way you need to educate yourself.

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Yeah.

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Because, so I always try to

let people know, I said, Hey,

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don't convolute those funds.

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Try to, you know, make sure that you

have a separate account for that.

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'cause it's easier tracking for yourself.

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Right.

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Of course.

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You, as you as the, um, nonprofit

have ability to do what you want.

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I'm only suggesting Yeah.

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You know?

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Yeah.

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I'm only giving my

guidance to what I've seen.

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Sure.

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Um, you know.

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Payroll should not be running out of

just a general account that you're, that

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all of your purchasing is coming from.

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Wendy Kidd: Right.

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It should be a

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Andrew Lee: separate account.

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It should be separate.

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I, I, I'm just, that's just my suggestion.

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Wendy Kidd: What are some other

separate accounts that they should

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have since we're on the topic?

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Andrew Lee: Uh, programs, programming.

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Mm-hmm.

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So if you're, if you're holding events,

um, should have its own special, special.

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I, I would suggest that.

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Mm-hmm.

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Uh, operating account is one thing

and everything can funnel through

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the operating account into the

other accounts, but divide it up.

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Make it easier on yourself.

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Yeah.

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I know.

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It's having extra accounts

seems like a lot of work.

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It's gonna, at the end of the year

when you're, when you're doing your

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books and you're doing all that stuff,

it is going to simplify your life.

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Wendy Kidd: Yeah.

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Well, and it's also easier for your

grant tracking because if you have

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a hundred percent a restricted grant

that can only go to these services.

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Then it should be, there should be

an account for just those services.

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So you know, nothing else

is hitting that grant money.

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Andrew Lee: Exactly.

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Wendy Kidd: Makes it way easier.

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Andrew Lee: Then if you have it

commingled with your operating

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account, it's, it's gonna be a lot.

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Because speaking like for me

from as a, as a treasurer for two

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different organizations, it's hard

to differentiate what's this, the.

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Was this funds for this event

or was this just general funds?

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Yeah.

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You know, it's, it makes my

life harder as a treasurer.

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Yeah.

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Uh, especially if I'm the one

looking at the books every month.

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Wendy Kidd: Yeah.

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Well, and let's lean into your

treasure experience for a second.

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Okay.

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So, talk about internal controls.

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So things like who should

be able to sign checks?

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What limits do you see when people

have to have double signers on checks?

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What are some of the internal practices

of a nonprofit when it's a treasurer role?

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Mm-hmm.

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That you see to help manage money wisely.

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Andrew Lee: I think you should, you as

the treasurer, should not be afraid to ask

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the question, where's this money going?

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Absolutely.

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Like, why are we, why are

we spending this much money?

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Um, that is really, and truthfully,

my job is, is, is checks and balances.

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Mm-hmm.

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Um, I may not be the one on the day-to-day

like seeing like every little transaction,

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:

but I'm gonna look at it at the end of

the month and I'm gonna say, okay, did we

401

:

really need to spend this amount of money?

402

:

On this?

403

:

Yeah.

404

:

Or could we have done this?

405

:

Yeah.

406

:

Could

407

:

we have had a conversation prior to that?

408

:

Don't be afraid.

409

:

Um, I know a lot of us, and especially

myself, I'm, I'm, I'm a board member.

410

:

Yeah.

411

:

Um, I'm not in the day-to-day

weeds of the organization.

412

:

Um, but sometimes you need, need

to kind of take a, take a minute.

413

:

Invest a little bit into what

you're signing up for and that

414

:

board position and say, Hey, don't

be afraid to ask those questions.

415

:

Yeah.

416

:

Like it, because sometimes

you can expose red flags.

417

:

Yes.

418

:

Um, situations that you know, you need,

that need to kind of be peeled back.

419

:

Um.

420

:

And things that you can circumvent

from happening and becoming a,

421

:

a bigger issue down the road.

422

:

Wendy Kidd: Right.

423

:

And I think that it's important because

I think a lot of people are like, oh

424

:

gosh, I don't want her to feel like I'm

questioning how she's doing her job.

425

:

No, but that's not the

point of the question.

426

:

No.

427

:

The point of the question is, are

we managing our money efficiently?

428

:

Andrew Lee: Exactly.

429

:

You

430

:

Wendy Kidd: know?

431

:

Yes, of course.

432

:

You could re reveal fraud

with your questions.

433

:

Mm-hmm.

434

:

99% of the time, that's

not what's going on.

435

:

No.

436

:

If somebody didn't understand how to use

the money correctly, or they took it out

437

:

of the wrong AC account unexpectedly.

438

:

Yeah.

439

:

Or something simple.

440

:

But you as the treasurer,

kind of the buck stops here.

441

:

You know, because that's, that's

why we need the treasurer.

442

:

We need that second set of eyes.

443

:

Yeah.

444

:

It,

445

:

Andrew Lee: it's.

446

:

You know, at the bank we try to,

like when the, we teach your bankers,

447

:

it's counting cash three times

when it comes outta the machine.

448

:

When you go back to the cu to

yourself and back to the customer.

449

:

Mm-hmm.

450

:

So it's just a checks and the balances.

451

:

You need to review it, someone needs

to review it like your ED or whoever is

452

:

running your organization or the board.

453

:

Everybody needs to check it needs

to touch three PE different people.

454

:

Wendy Kidd: Yes.

455

:

Andrew Lee: I think because

it's a checks and balances.

456

:

Wendy Kidd: Yeah.

457

:

It's

458

:

Andrew Lee: not our money,

it's the organization's money.

459

:

Wendy Kidd: Yeah.

460

:

Andrew Lee: And we wanna be

good stewards of that money.

461

:

Sure.

462

:

And we want to make sure that, you know,

we're doing what the, the best thing.

463

:

Again, communication.

464

:

It's having that conversation, not

being afraid to have that conversation.

465

:

Um, having a good relationship

with your bank is also an another

466

:

reason, you know, to help kind

of circumvent some of that stuff.

467

:

Wendy Kidd: Absolutely, yeah.

468

:

It's, it's just about being, having

that fi fiduciary responsibility.

469

:

Exactly.

470

:

Right.

471

:

So what, what else do you kind

of see, um, from a, a treasurer

472

:

role, internal controls wise?

473

:

Like, um, you know, what, what do

you typically see who typically has

474

:

access to the mink account directly?

475

:

It's

476

:

Andrew Lee: usually your president.

477

:

Mm-hmm.

478

:

Your, um, your ed of course.

479

:

Mm-hmm.

480

:

Um, and then your treasurer.

481

:

Okay.

482

:

Um, sometimes they'll put like a vice

chair on there just because they, the

483

:

president's not always, um, has access.

484

:

Mm-hmm.

485

:

Or the time to get up there.

486

:

Excuse me.

487

:

Uh, some organizations, um.

488

:

Want that flexibility to where they

don't have to always be the one.

489

:

Wendy Kidd: Right.

490

:

Andrew Lee: Um, a lot of people

put limits on the amounts.

491

:

Mm-hmm.

492

:

So that's another thing.

493

:

Mm-hmm.

494

:

Uh, some people like you can

spend up to $2,000 after that.

495

:

It's two se two signers.

496

:

Yeah.

497

:

Um, if it's a special event,

they, they lay it out.

498

:

They, you know, and we put, we

put those notes on the account.

499

:

We, we, we structured however

they feel best to do it.

500

:

Mm-hmm.

501

:

Um.

502

:

But then it's, it's in, it's in

the organization's hands basically

503

:

how to, how they want that done.

504

:

Wendy Kidd: Right.

505

:

You know?

506

:

Well, and I've also seen, like some

of 'em, the treasurer will have

507

:

access to view, but they won't be a

signer on the account because that

508

:

way it's never questioned whether the

treasurer did that transaction or not.

509

:

Exactly.

510

:

They're simply there to review it.

511

:

Andrew Lee: Yeah, that's true.

512

:

Um, you could, I've seen both ways.

513

:

Mm-hmm.

514

:

Um, where you've had access to everything.

515

:

Uh, you could move money,

do things like that.

516

:

Um, just because.

517

:

You are kind of like, but

doing the, depending on how

518

:

hands on you want to be Yeah.

519

:

And

520

:

how your organization is set up,

um, and how big or small it is.

521

:

If you are just the treasurer and you're,

and you are of a bigger nonprofit, I

522

:

would highly suggest you just having

view access, printing the documents,

523

:

reviewing it, giving your notes.

524

:

Yeah.

525

:

And going from there.

526

:

Wendy Kidd: Yeah.

527

:

Okay.

528

:

So, uh, what are, what are some.

529

:

Moments.

530

:

So what are some big events or moments

that might cause you to wanna talk

531

:

to your banker before you do it?

532

:

Andrew Lee: In what regard?

533

:

Wendy Kidd: So, like, if I am

gonna hire my first employee.

534

:

Okay.

535

:

I reach out to my banker,

536

:

Andrew Lee: I mean Yeah.

537

:

If they're your person, your kind

of your go-to person, like your,

538

:

for your finance type questions.

539

:

Mm-hmm.

540

:

If you don't have a financial

planner or something like that.

541

:

Mm-hmm.

542

:

Yes.

543

:

Please call your bank, let

us, let us help you out.

544

:

Yeah.

545

:

As much as you can, like.

546

:

I mean, we have nonprofits that, you

know, have eds, they have a staff.

547

:

Uh, we all the way down to people

that are running just on a board.

548

:

Yeah.

549

:

Uh, with no staff, no hardly

any overhead, you know?

550

:

Yeah.

551

:

Um, so you really need to see if

you can't afford it, you know?

552

:

Yeah.

553

:

I mean, I'm not gonna sit there

and tell you no to something.

554

:

It's your organization.

555

:

At the end of the day, you know,

I'm gonna make suggestions, you

556

:

know, I'm gonna be your guide.

557

:

Mm-hmm.

558

:

But I don't, but, you know, our ba our job

as bankers is to help you be successful.

559

:

Right.

560

:

And so we're gonna have those tough

conversations with you, but at the

561

:

end of the day, that's your decision.

562

:

Wendy Kidd: Well, and I think that's,

that's kind of the point, right?

563

:

Is if they have that

relationship with their banker.

564

:

Exactly.

565

:

Andrew Lee: They're not gonna

be afraid to ask the question.

566

:

Yeah.

567

:

Wendy Kidd: Don't be afraid

to ask the question and lean

568

:

into that banker's experience.

569

:

Mm-hmm.

570

:

Because they can absolutely tell

you without revealing names.

571

:

Yeah.

572

:

Yeah.

573

:

What other people have

done in this scenario,

574

:

Andrew Lee: we can give, we

can give you guidance, we can

575

:

guide you, um, you know, if.

576

:

We're, they're a true community bank.

577

:

If they've been, if they've been involved

in the community and they have those

578

:

relationships built up, they know what

organizations have done and been through.

579

:

And, you know, all we're there is

just kind of share feedback and,

580

:

you know, help you, help guide you.

581

:

It's, it's guidance.

582

:

It's Right.

583

:

Basically what it is.

584

:

It's a conversation and guidance.

585

:

Wendy Kidd: Right.

586

:

Andrew Lee: Yeah.

587

:

Wendy Kidd: So we've, we've talked

a little bit about red flags.

588

:

Yeah.

589

:

But what are some green flags people

should look for in their banks?

590

:

What do they, when they're shopping for

that bank, what do they wanna look for?

591

:

Okay.

592

:

Andrew Lee: The biggest thing I could say

is that bank immersed into the community.

593

:

If you are out in the community, do you

see that bank's name as a sponsor as, or

594

:

are they in, are they part of the event?

595

:

Are they participating?

596

:

Because if they're not.

597

:

I'm, I, I, it's just, to me it's

just like, okay, they're just

598

:

putting their name up there for

a ch just for a sponsorship.

599

:

Wendy Kidd: Well, I think it's a good

point though, because basically if they're

600

:

not out in the community, if you don't see

them already working with nonprofits Yeah.

601

:

How are they gonna have the

experience to help guide you?

602

:

Andrew Lee: Exactly.

603

:

And are they there?

604

:

Yeah.

605

:

Like in the, there's so many nonprofits,

or I mean like organizations there,

606

:

I mean, there's so many banks

that will come out and they will.

607

:

Say they're there, but they're not there.

608

:

Yeah.

609

:

They're their, their

names not really there.

610

:

Their name's on the wall,

611

:

you know, and Great, they cut

a check, it's great, but what

612

:

else are they doing for you?

613

:

Wendy Kidd: Yeah.

614

:

Andrew Lee: You know, are they

inviting you into their space?

615

:

Are they having those deep

conversations with you?

616

:

Are they trying to say, Hey, this may be

a no right now, but let's get you to that.

617

:

Yes.

618

:

Wendy Kidd: Yeah.

619

:

Andrew Lee: You know,

620

:

Wendy Kidd: love that.

621

:

Andrew Lee: You know,

let's get you to that.

622

:

Yes.

623

:

Let's work with you.

624

:

Um, because that's who we are.

625

:

We're here to serve the community.

626

:

We have, we have, um, what's

called, uh, I love this.

627

:

We call it purpose in a Pocket Check.

628

:

Check this out.

629

:

Um, first, first United has this.

630

:

Little, uh, purpose in a pocket

trifold, uh, purpose in a pocket.

631

:

Wendy Kidd: Love it.

632

:

Andrew Lee: And, and it has

our serve model on it and

633

:

how we serve the communities.

634

:

I mean, our CEO Greg Massey,

uh, his vision for 10 years is,

635

:

is to serve 10 million lives,

is to give back to 10 million.

636

:

We've already exceeded that.

637

:

And we're we're, I was gonna say,

you have to, we're, we're well into,

638

:

I, I don't even know right now Yeah.

639

:

Where we're at, but we're, uh.

640

:

And so we're giving back to our

communities in these four ways

641

:

of faith, financial, wellbeing,

health, and personal growth.

642

:

'cause if we build, if we build, we feel

like if we can give back in these four

643

:

ways, we can build a stronger community.

644

:

I love

645

:

that.

646

:

So

647

:

if your bank is doing that, investing

into the community where they're go

648

:

be, they're participating, they're

showing up, they're, they're going

649

:

to the, you know, local toy drive.

650

:

They're going to the, you know,

they're collecting canned goods.

651

:

They're, they're showing up for the,

that nonprofit, you know, not just

652

:

cutting the check, but showing up

for them, handing out, handing out

653

:

the food, doing whatever they can.

654

:

To help that organization grow.

655

:

Mm-hmm.

656

:

Not just past the checking and the savings

account and the whatever, but what can you

657

:

do for them to help them grow past that?

658

:

Right.

659

:

It's a relationship.

660

:

It's not just, we're not just

here for the, you know, to collect

661

:

interest or whatever it is.

662

:

We're here to.

663

:

Help you succeed.

664

:

Wendy Kidd: So, green flags, let

me make sure I'm summing this up.

665

:

Mm-hmm.

666

:

And we didn't miss something.

667

:

So, green flags are, are

they in the community?

668

:

Mm-hmm.

669

:

Are they present?

670

:

Andrew Lee: Yes.

671

:

Wendy Kidd: Are they

actually volunteering?

672

:

Are they serving out

there in the community?

673

:

Yes.

674

:

Are they inviting you to their space,

inviting you to get to know them?

675

:

What, what else did I miss?

676

:

Something?

677

:

Andrew Lee: I mean, I think

those are the, I think those

678

:

are, those are the main three.

679

:

Yeah.

680

:

I think those, I think those are the

things because you know, at First United,

681

:

we have these rooms called the, uh.

682

:

Community rooms.

683

:

Yes.

684

:

Um, we are actually about to

have one built over at Red Bud.

685

:

It's hopefully it'll be done next month.

686

:

Fingers crossed.

687

:

Well, this is

688

:

Wendy Kidd: gonna come out in January.

689

:

So in January.

690

:

Hopefully when this comes out,

Uhhuh, the community room is open.

691

:

Oh,

692

:

Andrew Lee: yes, please.

693

:

Everyone come see it.

694

:

Yes.

695

:

It's, uh, my friend Denise

and I, uh, who works with me,

696

:

been life wisely Ambassador.

697

:

Um, we've been waiting

patiently, eagerly It's been a

698

:

Wendy Kidd: little on the struggle bus.

699

:

Yeah.

700

:

Or

701

:

Andrew Lee: we excited instruction people

'cause that, because that room is kind of.

702

:

One of the things that makes us who

we are as a bank, because it's at the,

703

:

it's a where we're coming to you and

seeing, meeting you where you're at.

704

:

Mm-hmm.

705

:

We're also letting you

come into our space.

706

:

And letting you take a piece

of First United With you.

707

:

Yeah.

708

:

And letting you use First United as

far as like our room, you know, you've

709

:

been in our lobbies and seen like

the, the giveaways that we give away.

710

:

Yeah, yeah.

711

:

You swag with, with our pillar wall.

712

:

Little bank with swag.

713

:

Yeah.

714

:

We, I mean we, we, that's other

ways that we can give back.

715

:

It's, yeah.

716

:

It's a book.

717

:

It's a giveaway, but.

718

:

It's to enrich lives.

719

:

Yeah.

720

:

You know?

721

:

Yeah.

722

:

And that, and that space for nonprofits

is, is, is major because not only

723

:

is it a, is it a, not only is it

a room, but it's a space for that

724

:

not, some nonprofits don't have.

725

:

Wendy Kidd: Right.

726

:

Andrew Lee: You know, they can

hold a small little, get together a

727

:

lunch and learn, um, you know, board

728

:

Wendy Kidd: meetings.

729

:

A

730

:

Andrew Lee: board meeting.

731

:

Yeah.

732

:

Yes.

733

:

Um, uh, it's gonna have a space

to where you, to be able to.

734

:

Serve lunch if you want to

have a all day event, you know?

735

:

Uh, so it's a great place.

736

:

Our Craig Ranch location has one.

737

:

Most of our locations

here in DFW have one.

738

:

Um, so if you're hearing this and

you're not in McKinney or, um, and

739

:

you want to, to come talk to me, you

know, we will get you set up with one.

740

:

Wendy Kidd: I love that you guys provide

the space free of charge to nonprofits.

741

:

Yes.

742

:

I mean, I know it's not

like a space for a gala.

743

:

It's not like huge.

744

:

No, but it is.

745

:

It, it's a great space.

746

:

That allows them to grow.

747

:

Yeah.

748

:

Like you said, and I, I love that you

guys also hold free education Yes.

749

:

For nonprofits in these.

750

:

Um, I I think that's another green

flag for people to look at is Yes.

751

:

Is your bank looking to educate you?

752

:

Andrew Lee: I have a passion around

financial literacy and helping people

753

:

get back on track because I know it's,

it's, it's something that we need today.

754

:

We needed it yesterday.

755

:

Kids needed it way back when.

756

:

Um.

757

:

And so I want to make sure

that we have those classes.

758

:

So I'm gonna be teaching

two of those next year.

759

:

Wendy Kidd: Wow.

760

:

Um,

761

:

Andrew Lee: here.

762

:

Wendy Kidd: That's awesome.

763

:

Yeah.

764

:

Yeah.

765

:

So, you know, I, I think that.

766

:

We all know the red flags.

767

:

Yeah.

768

:

We all know the red flags.

769

:

When they aren't getting back

to you, they don't talk to you,

770

:

they don't mentor you in any way.

771

:

Mm-hmm.

772

:

When you walk into that lobby and

you don't know who to talk to.

773

:

Andrew Lee: Yeah.

774

:

Wendy Kidd: I mean, I've been, how,

775

:

Andrew Lee: how many of us have gone

into a bank and there's no one in

776

:

there and it's just a machine and

a corner and it's like, oh my gosh,

777

:

Wendy Kidd: they're all scaling down.

778

:

Oh, I know.

779

:

It's, they don't even

have tellers anymore.

780

:

It's, it's like you have have to go

to the ATM to do a zoom call with a

781

:

teller somewhere else in the country.

782

:

Oh my

783

:

Andrew Lee: gosh.

784

:

I've, I walked, I don't

even know what bank it was.

785

:

I walked in there and I was like,

I was like, no, I can't do this.

786

:

Wendy Kidd: Right.

787

:

Right.

788

:

So, okay.

789

:

I don't know

790

:

Andrew Lee: who you are.

791

:

Wendy Kidd: So say that you've

done your research, you've, you've

792

:

found a, a bank that has all the

green flags and you actually are

793

:

gonna get to talk to the banker.

794

:

Yeah.

795

:

What questions should they ask

796

:

Andrew Lee: the banker or the nonprofit?

797

:

What

798

:

Wendy Kidd: should the nonprofit ask the

banker to interview them, decide that

799

:

this is their banker they wanna work with?

800

:

Andrew Lee: I think that if that

banker and that nonprofit is not

801

:

asking, you know, like past the.

802

:

Checking account.

803

:

What do you offer?

804

:

All that stuff.

805

:

You know, just that my banker, when

you come into to an organization, they

806

:

should be telling you about what you

know, who they are, what we offer, but

807

:

they should be getting to know you.

808

:

Wendy Kidd: Hmm.

809

:

They should be asking you, they

should be asking you the questions.

810

:

Mm-hmm.

811

:

They

812

:

Andrew Lee: should be sitting

down, having that conversation

813

:

with you, getting to know you.

814

:

There should not be a banking conversation

until they have discovered what

815

:

your organization is, who it serves.

816

:

And you know, in their mind they should

be thinking of how they can benefit you.

817

:

Wendy Kidd: Right.

818

:

Right.

819

:

Not only what financial

resources they can provide.

820

:

Yeah.

821

:

But other resources.

822

:

'cause at the end

823

:

Andrew Lee: of the day, our jobs

are to talk about financial.

824

:

Resources for you.

825

:

Wendy Kidd: Mm-hmm.

826

:

Andrew Lee: But we don't know who you are.

827

:

Yeah.

828

:

You know, do we have, I mean, I can,

I can sit down and have a conversation

829

:

with a customer, and in the back of

my mind I am thinking like, oh my God,

830

:

I can plug them in with this person.

831

:

I can get 'em over here with this person.

832

:

You know, this, this, this

tool would be perfect for them.

833

:

But I'm also listening at the same

time because I want to make sure that

834

:

they, they're, they know they're heard.

835

:

Yeah.

836

:

And second of all that I'm giving them

something that's gonna benefit them.

837

:

I don't know how many times that I have

been sold a line and said, oh, you know,

838

:

we're gonna get you this, this, and this.

839

:

But they didn't listen to what I needed.

840

:

They just sold me a product.

841

:

Yeah.

842

:

I'm not gonna sell you a product.

843

:

I'm going to give you something

that's going to benefit you.

844

:

If it's not gonna benefit you,

I'm not gonna give it to you.

845

:

Wendy Kidd: Yeah.

846

:

Banking is not one size fits all.

847

:

Andrew Lee: It's not one size fits all.

848

:

Wendy Kidd: And I think

everybody doesn't know that.

849

:

Yes.

850

:

So you think

851

:

Andrew Lee: that you have to have

this and you have to have that.

852

:

You don't.

853

:

Wendy Kidd: Yeah.

854

:

Andrew Lee: You don't.

855

:

Wendy Kidd: Yeah.

856

:

Andrew Lee: And a lot of people don't

realize, like they, they just open a

857

:

savings account and they don't realize

that it maybe a money market is a better

858

:

solution for them to earn interest.

859

:

Wendy Kidd: Absolutely.

860

:

Um,

861

:

Andrew Lee: I mean, or that just

leaving their money, sitting in a

862

:

checking account is and letting it

build up to thinking they have a high

863

:

balance that they're doing great.

864

:

Yeah.

865

:

Great.

866

:

You have money in the bank.

867

:

That's awesome.

868

:

But let that money work for you.

869

:

Let it earn some interest.

870

:

Yeah.

871

:

You know, like, 'cause depending

on what that balance is,

872

:

that could be a good return.

873

:

Wendy Kidd: Absolutely.

874

:

Absolutely.

875

:

So, okay, for all the, the smaller

nonprofits out there that are thinking,

876

:

well, I'm just not big enough to matter.

877

:

This doesn't really apply to me.

878

:

What would you say to them

879

:

Andrew Lee: that's, you should

not think in that wavelength.

880

:

No matter how big or

small you are, you matter.

881

:

Absolutely you, you matter.

882

:

Everybody started from

nothing and made something.

883

:

Look at, look at Jeff Bezos

and starting in his garage

884

:

and look at where he is today.

885

:

Um, you know, the biggest

nonprofit today started somewhere.

886

:

Wendy Kidd: Yeah.

887

:

Andrew Lee: You know?

888

:

Wendy Kidd: Yeah.

889

:

Andrew Lee: You come in, they

should treat you like the

890

:

multimillionaire that just walked out.

891

:

Wendy Kidd: Absolutely.

892

:

They

893

:

Andrew Lee: should treat

you just like anybody.

894

:

Wendy Kidd: I'll give you

a good example, hugs, cafe.

895

:

Yeah.

896

:

Right.

897

:

Look how tiny they started out.

898

:

Yeah.

899

:

And now they, they're they've, they've,

they're building their headquarters.

900

:

Yes.

901

:

The world headquarters.

902

:

It's an amazing looking headquarters.

903

:

Yeah.

904

:

They just opened their

second cafe in Dallas.

905

:

Yes.

906

:

Um, you know, and it's a

great organization, can tell

907

:

me that they didn't do that.

908

:

Without a banking relationship.

909

:

Yes.

910

:

With several banks.

911

:

I bet.

912

:

Andrew Lee: Several banks,

several relationships.

913

:

Yeah.

914

:

You know, immersing their

self in the community.

915

:

Um, having those con deep conversations

like, you know, getting to know people.

916

:

Yeah.

917

:

You know, not just in your, not

just your banker, but your bank.

918

:

Wendy Kidd: Yeah.

919

:

You know, as a

920

:

Andrew Lee: whole.

921

:

Absolutely.

922

:

Wendy Kidd: Absolutely.

923

:

All right, man.

924

:

I, I feel like I've asked

so much of you today.

925

:

Yeah.

926

:

Yeah.

927

:

But I'll ask, is there anything that

you wanna talk about that we've missed?

928

:

Andrew Lee: You know, I think the biggest

thing you can say to a nonprofit is don't

929

:

be, don't be afraid of open communication.

930

:

Don't be afraid to ask

those hard questions.

931

:

Um, just come in and

let's have a conversation.

932

:

If you leave without opening an account,

if you leave without, even if, if you took

933

:

something away from that, that meeting

934

:

mm-hmm.

935

:

Then we have, we have done our job.

936

:

Wendy Kidd: Right.

937

:

Andrew Lee: If you took something away

from that meeting, we've done our job.

938

:

Wendy Kidd: Yeah.

939

:

Andrew Lee: Um.

940

:

Wendy Kidd: Don't be afraid

of judgment, don't be.

941

:

I think that's what stops a lot of

people from walking in the door.

942

:

Yeah.

943

:

Andrew Lee: And it's not even like

ju like you shouldn't be judged on a

944

:

certain like level, like, you know,

don't be afraid for me to like say,

945

:

Hey, don't, wouldn't necessarily do it

that way, but this is what I've seen.

946

:

Be afraid.

947

:

Be open to that advice.

948

:

Yeah.

949

:

You know, I, I mean, I think so,

so many people are afraid to.

950

:

I don't know how to say it.

951

:

Like you don't know what

you don't know type thing.

952

:

Wendy Kidd: Absolutely.

953

:

Andrew Lee: Yeah.

954

:

Wendy Kidd: Yeah.

955

:

Andrew Lee: And they're afraid to ask

that question because they're gonna know.

956

:

Wendy Kidd: Mm-hmm.

957

:

Mm-hmm.

958

:

Andrew Lee: And they're like, oh, I

don't wanna know, you know, type thing.

959

:

Wendy Kidd: Yeah.

960

:

Your banker should be

interested in helping, you know?

961

:

Andrew Lee: Yes.

962

:

Right.

963

:

Wendy Kidd: Yes.

964

:

Again, red flag, green

flag situation here.

965

:

But that's the point, is

if you, if you can be brave

966

:

Andrew Lee: mm-hmm.

967

:

Wendy Kidd: And, and, and go

try to find a banker mm-hmm.

968

:

That fits you, you're gonna

benefit so much from it.

969

:

A

970

:

Andrew Lee: hundred percent.

971

:

Wendy Kidd: Yeah,

972

:

Andrew Lee: a hundred percent.

973

:

And it's not just a financial, it's

gonna make your life so much easier.

974

:

Yeah.

975

:

Because again, it's a relationship.

976

:

You should be able to that.

977

:

Like if you need to text

that person, text them.

978

:

If you need to email them at midnight,

they may not get back to you right away,

979

:

but they're gonna, we're gonna have that

con open, open conversation with you.

980

:

I'm gonna call you, you know,

you called me, you know,

981

:

Wendy Kidd: I texted you.

982

:

I say, Hey, you,

983

:

Andrew Lee: I'm gonna, you know,

depending on how much it is, I,

984

:

you know, I text, but I don't

text as fast as some kids today.

985

:

Wendy Kidd: Yeah.

986

:

Andrew Lee: And so I will call you.

987

:

Wendy Kidd: Yeah.

988

:

Andrew Lee: And we'll have,

we'll go sit and have lunch.

989

:

We'll do whatever we have

to do to make sure we.

990

:

Come, come up with a solution.

991

:

Wendy Kidd: Yeah.

992

:

Yeah.

993

:

Absolutely.

994

:

Thank you so much, Andrew.

995

:

You're welcome.

996

:

I really appreciate you.

997

:

Thank you for having me.

998

:

Yeah, of course.

999

:

Of course.

:

00:32:35,229 --> 00:32:38,529

And if anybody has any questions

for Andrew, we're gonna have a

:

00:32:38,529 --> 00:32:40,569

link to his LinkedIn profile Yeah.

:

00:32:40,719 --> 00:32:42,369

And links to the bank in here.

:

00:32:42,699 --> 00:32:45,639

Um, and if you guys have more questions

about trying to find the right banker

:

00:32:45,639 --> 00:32:48,759

for you, please feel free to reach out

to either of us, and thanks so much.

:

00:32:48,759 --> 00:32:49,209

Andrew Lee: Yeah, thanks.

:

00:32:49,269 --> 00:32:50,289

Wendy Kidd: See y'all next episode.

:

00:32:50,319 --> 00:32:50,379

Bye.

:

00:32:53,529 --> 00:32:55,299

Thanks for listening to the nonprofit.

:

00:32:55,299 --> 00:32:58,059

No, we're building better

nonprofits together.

:

00:32:58,329 --> 00:33:01,509

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helpful, please subscribe, leave

:

00:33:01,509 --> 00:33:04,719

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:

00:33:05,199 --> 00:33:08,889

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:

00:33:08,919 --> 00:33:10,899

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:

00:33:11,259 --> 00:33:14,049

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:

00:33:14,049 --> 00:33:17,844

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:

00:33:18,909 --> 00:33:20,499

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:

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