Bank of America employee celebrates half a century with company

RIO RANCHO — Half a century is a long time to be working for one company.

But Stan Gillespie, vice president of retail banking at the Rio Rancho Bank of America Call Center, did it and was recognized for the achievement, according to a release this month.

Gillespie, a New Mexico resident, was recognized by company CEO Brian Moynihan for his 50 years in banking. He is currently the longest-serving employee in New Mexico, it states, but there are 25 other employees nationwide that reached the same longevity.

“It was a really special event meeting with our CEO. He made sure we felt valued and thanked us for our years with the bank, sharing that it is people like us who helped build the company,” Gillespie said.

The release states that he first began working in the Bank of America mailroom in 1977 as a teenager while attending school at the University of New Mexico. He worked his way up to teller, loan officer, branch manager, assistant vice president, and now vice president of retail banking in Rio Rancho.

"A lot has changed in the industry since Gillespie began his banking career, from credit scoring to how customers prefer to bank. He’s also seen firsthand how technology has changed the way banking works," the release states.

"For example, early on in his career, Gillespie would deliver thousands of checks every day from the mailroom, most of which are now distributed electronically."

It states there weren’t standardized FICO credit scores and loan automation in 1982, when he became a loan officer, like there is today. Instead, banks made decisions for approving loans manually.

“There’s a lot to reminisce about regarding how things used to be done, but technology has certainly made everything a lot faster and efficient for both employees and customers,” said Gillespie.

Additionally, over the years Gillespie saw a change in customer preferences, as more people began to opt for banking over the phone and online. That’s when he redirected his career to the bank’s Rio Rancho Call Center, where he has been ever since, it reads.

“I wanted to go to where the customers are,” he said.

The release adds that the relationships and camaraderie he has built with his customers and teammates are part of what has kept him in the industry for 50 years.

“There’s a sense of fulfillment that comes from being close to your community by helping customers. If I could give advice to anyone starting their careers, I would tell them that while income and benefits are important, the best feeling comes from a sense that you’re making a positive impact and contributing to something bigger than yourself," Gillespie said. “I’ve had people come back and say, ‘Stan, you gave me my first car loan in ‘82,’ or ‘You gave me a business loan!’ I even had a client make a million-dollar business out of the loan I gave him.”

According to the announcement, he plans to retire in the next couple of years.