How Bank of Central Florida Has Redefined Relationship Banking
PHOTOS BY JORDAN RANDALL AND PROVIDED BY BANK OF CENTRAL FLORIDA | DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BANK OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
Treasury Management Officer Abel Marte (left) and Professional Banking Team Leader Randy Estrada (right) both serve on the board for Achievement Academy, alongside leaders like Achievement Academy President/CEO Kristin Aiken (center) — and example of how Bank of Central Florida relationship managers are embedded in the community.
The corridors felt a little narrower, the classrooms slightly smaller, but the familiar scent and memories came rushing back instantly for Rob McCollum when he entered the halls of McLaughlin School of Excellence in Lake Wales. Nearly 30 years had passed since he was a student walking those same halls. On that day, as part of a school assembly, McCollum was there for a full-circle moment: handing out academic scholarships to local students.
Growing up in an educator’s household—his mother was a teacher, as are his wife, Dawn, and eldest daughter, Morgan—McCollum has long understood that investment in people yields compounding returns over time. That morning in Lake Wales wasn’t just a personal milestone, though, it was a vivid reflection of the guiding ethos behind his work as Polk Market Executive at Bank of Central Florida.
For McCollum and the team at Bank of Central Florida, impact isn’t measured simply in spreadsheets filled with data and analytics. It is measured by presence, participation, and a deep-seated commitment to the prosperity of Polk County.
TRUE CAPITAL COMES IN THE FORM OF RELATIONSHIPS
Having spent nearly three decades in local banking, McCollum reached a pivotal realization in his career: his “highest and best use” was serving the community he was raised in.
“The joy here has been working with people I’ve known my entire professional career in a market I grew up in,” says McCollum. “Our money spends the same as any other institution’s. Our true capital is our relationships.”
That distinction matters deeply in a region driven by entrepreneurial ambition. When business owners in Lakeland, Tampa, Brandon, Winter Haven or Plant City sit down with Bank of Central Florida, they are speaking with decision-makers who live down the street, know local culture and understand the economic nuances of Central Florida. Because decisions are made locally and swiftly, local business owners can gain a distinct speed-to-market advantage, whether securing commercial real estate, expanding operations, or financing new equipment.
At the heart of the Bank of Central Florida model is a structure that provides dedicated Relationship Managers to every client across Commercial, Professional and Community Banking. These bankers, including McCollum, immerse themselves in the civic fabric of the communities they call home.
They are encouraged to put their time and resources into organizations that meet the needs of local individuals and families. From serving on the boards of Florida Southern College’s Barney Barnett School of Free Business and Enterprise and AdventHealth Foundation to leadership roles in local Chambers of Commerce, United Way, and Rotary clubs, Bank of Central Florida’s relationship managers are deeply woven into the community fabric.
“They aren’t just showing up for meetings,” McCollum notes. “Our bankers are asked to serve in senior leadership roles because they’re recognized as community leaders.”
A LIVING EXAMPLE: ACHIEVEMENT ACADEMY
An example of the bank’s commitment to hands-on involvement is showcased through its partnership with Achievement Academy, a local organization offering critical early intervention programs and schooling for children with developmental delays. Bank of Central Florida leaders like Professional Banking Team Leader Randy Estrada and Treasury Management Officer Abel Marte give their time and strategic counsel to support the organization’s mission.
For Estrada, who serves on the academy’s board of directors, the involvement is personal as well as professional. “Coming to a smaller institution like Bank of Central Florida gave me the opportunity to really make a difference in communities that we work in and serve,” Estrada explains.
Estrada has a niece with developmental delays, so he understands the multi-faceted challenges families face: “To be able to see folks that are sometimes incredibly challenged with the situation to have a resource partner that can connect them... and give them just a little light at the end of the tunnel to see their kids behave in a way that is making them feel that they’re included, that they’re happy... is incredibly fulfilling.”
Marte serves as an advocate and connector for the school. “My focus is bringing in payables and receivables efficiency... as well as adding levels of protection,” Marte notes. “Simply bringing awareness to those who are not involved (in Achievement Academy) is a big opportunity... doing anything less than what we can do here at the Achievement Academy would be a disservice to the community, a disservice to the families and those young ones looking for a bright future.”
For Kristin Aiken, President and CEO of Achievement Academy, having Bank of Central Florida executives actively engaged in the school’s leadership makes a transformative impact on the staff, the families and the children they serve.
“It is so humbling and overwhelmingly rewarding to hear people say ‘Yes’ to Achievement Academy, but to hear the same passion in members of our community that I see every single day here among our staff, among our families,” says Aiken. “It is embedded in their culture to be deeply involved in the community in meaningful ways.”
Rob McCollum, Polk Market Executive at Bank of Central Florida, is dialed into the community personally and professionally, offering clients highly localized service that matches their needs.
AN EVER EXPANDING FOOTPRINT
This web of connectivity creates a powerful ecosystem for Bank of Central Florida clients. When local leaders partner with the bank, they gain access to an expansive network of like-minded entrepreneurs, community champions and decision-makers. A simple conversation over lunch or coffee frequently sparks strategic introductions, mentorship opportunities and even new business ventures.
“When we sit around the table we talk about who can connect someone with the right person in Polk County, kind of the degrees of connection we all have,” McCollum says. “We have a footprint of being so integrated in the community…and it comes from literally having staff go out and be part of the community by volunteering, serving, etc.”
In a region where leaders, influencers, and even elected officials try to balance explosive growth with keeping a cherished small-town feel intact, Bank of Central Florida proves that when financial expertise meets genuine local commitment, everyone wins.
For Rob McCollum and his team, banking isn’t just about managing assets—it’s about building the future of the place they proudly call home.
Bank of Central Florida | Member FDIC