Meet Nick Wimmer, Vice President – Commercial Lending at Union Bank & Trust (ubt.com).
Tell us a little about your business. – As a commercial lender, I assist business owners and CFOs/Controllers of companies of all sizes with lending and depository services. One thing that attracted me to UBT is that we are a big enough bank to handle almost any deal regardless of size or complexity, but small enough to be nimble and get things done.
How did you get started in the business? – As much as I love my job, I often tell people that no one grows up wanting to be a banker. I graduated from the University of Nebraska with two things – an accounting degree and a high level of certainty that I never wanted to work as an accountant. Banking (specifically commercial lending) was appealing to me because I thought it would give me the ability develop relationships and work with people while still utilizing my numbers background.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? – I think the COVID-19 Pandemic was a challenging time for every banker. Between processing PPP loans, deal flow being heightened from borrowers capitalizing on historically low interest rates and trying to operate in a client-facing role from a home, there were all sorts of challenges. But I’m also quick to recognize that a lot of people, especially frontline healthcare workers and essential employees, were dealing with a lot more at that time.
What has been your most important achievement professionally? – Every time I am able to help an employee become an employer via startup or business acquisition loan, that is when I have felt the greatest sense of professional achievement. As cheesy or cliché as it sounds, it is extremely rewarding to play a small part in making an aspiring entrepreneur’s dreams become their new reality.
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? – Fishing, golfing or hunting. And if all of those activities are off the table, then working in my yard. For being a generally laid-back guy, I have a pretty hard time sitting still for too long.
Who inspires you? – I’m constantly inspired and motivated by my father and my grandfather, both of whom have passed away. My father treated people better than anyone I’d ever met and my grandfather was the hardest worker I’d ever known.
What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? – “Why worry? If you’ve done the very best you can, then worrying won’t make it any better.”
If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? – Genuine.
If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? – When I was younger, I wanted to be a sports agent. I don’t really know why, but I suspect it had something to do with me knowing even then that being a professional athlete was off the table, so I figured that would’ve been the next best thing.
Which talent would you most like to have? – I think a photographic memory would be extremely helpful. Otherwise, I would love to be a better golfer (without practicing or spending money on lessons, of course).
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – (402) 827-6937 | nick.wimmer@ubt.com