2010 Outstanding Women in Banking: Cindy Haas

Cindy Haas switched careers from retail to banking 25 years ago because she wanted to get out of sales.."Little did I know that banking is sales," she says with chagrin..The vice president of private banking at Gateway Bank in Mendota Heights, Minn., relies on her sales skills every day to build strong personal relationships with her clients. She is one of NorthWestern Financial Review's 2010 Outstanding Women in Banking..Haas works with clients from small business owners to corporate executives. The variety makes her job interesting.."Everyone is different," she says. "Their needs and goals are unique and intriguing. Private banking is very high touch, sometimes high maintenance, and that's what I like.".Haas considers her clients family. She has seen them through life-changing moments from births to deaths and everything in between. She doesn't hesitate to go the extra mile.."Whether it's closing a loan at someone's kitchen table at 10 at night, attending the funeral of a client's elderly parent, or traveling to a hospital in the middle of the night because a client needs a notary, I don't think twice," she says. "That's who I am.".Regina Barr, founder and CEO of Red Ladder, a Twin Cities-based consulting firm, witnessed Haas' dedication when both served as district presidents for Financial Women International. Haas was poised to assume the FWI international presidency when the organization dissolved in December 2009. She and Barr are founding members of the Women at the Top Network.."Cindy is a phenomenal leader," Barr says. "She has a can-do, positive attitude and goes above and beyond what the job duties are. She makes things happen.".For women to succeed in banking, Haas says it's important to remain flexible. "I took on projects that did not fit my job description to show my supervisor I was willing to take on new challenges," she says..Haas started her banking career as a teller at Signal Bank in West St. Paul, Minn., in 1985 and worked in customer service, retail banking, lending/deposits and as a receptionist and branch manager before moving into private banking. She left Signal in 2002 when it was purchased by Associated Bank. She spent six years at Anchor Bank in Eagan, Minn., before joining Gateway Bank in 2008..Along the way she earned her insurance and brokerage licenses while raising two children..Haas has seen the banking industry evolve with her career. "Technology has made customers savvier," she states. "Our competition is not just banks and insurance companies, but Wal-Mart, Target, and everyone else who wants to be in banking.."It changes every day. What was two years ago may never be again.".What won't change for Haas is her commitment to personal relationships. In today's high-tech world where many business transactions are conducted online, without personal interactions, Haas maintains her human connections.."Someone once told me that if you take care of people, the business and numbers will come," she says. "That's so true.".Haas is proud that although Gateway Bank is located in a suburb of the larger Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, the $90 million institution has kept its commitment to community banking over the past seven years. "Being a smaller bank, we may not be able to make the sizable loans of a larger bank, but we are able to build personal relationships," she says. "It's hard to put a price tag on that.."If you stay true to yourself and know who you are, you will be successful," she says. "I am a very genuine, energetic, and relationship driven person.".With her children grown and FWI no more, Haas went in search of a new challenge. She is chairing the 2011 Women's Conference for the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce. She also serves as editor of Today's Financial Women magazine.Other 2010 Outstanding Women in Banking honorees include:Susan Whitson, First National Bank of Waverly, IowaJana Sipe Berndt, Bremer Bank, Breckenridge, Minn.Lesa Black, Princeville State Bank, Princeville, Ill.