Tom Carroll, founder and CEO of Pro Metal Works, a sheet metal fabrication shop in DeForest, is appreciative of the culture he finds at local banks — particularly Oak Bank. “Everybody’s genuine at Oak Bank. Honestly, it feels like a family-type situation. I didn’t get that with the bigger banks I’ve dealt with before.”
They’re not about bots
“It’s all about communication. The communication is phenomenal at Oak Bank, and I think that really helps with the client relationship as well,” explains Tom. These days, many can relate to calling a large company and listening to hours of menus and recorded responses or having to deal with an AI chatbot. Often, it’s impossible to reach a real person. Tom explains that at Oak Bank, their people pick up the phone, and call you back when you leave a message. “You’re talking to live people, which I love. And the greatest thing is, when I call Stephanie [Stephanie East, treasury management officer, Oak Bank], she gets back to me right away.”
Online business banking they teach you how to use
As mentioned, Pro Metal Works is in DeForest, and Oak Bank is in Fitchburg. That’s a 30-minute drive if traffic is light. That’s doable, but it’s much easier to jump on a computer. “Stephanie set me up with online banking, and it’s been one of the greatest assets that Oak Bank has helped me utilize, especially with us not being in the vicinity of where our bank is.”
“I’m not the most technology-savvy guy,” Tom admits, “but when I call Stephanie, she is able to walk me through the online process and makes it feel easy.” And that’s not a random person at a call center miles away giving Tom online support, that’s the bank’s treasury management officer who understands clients’ needs best. “Online banking has been a very, very beneficial tool for me to use to be more efficient,” says Tom.
Why Pro Metal Works trusts Oak Bank
“Pro Metal has lasted 25 years, and it’s because of the great relationships, like the ones I’ve made with Oak Bank and my banker, Larry [Larry Van Epps, vice president−business banking, Oak Bank].” He continues, “Larry takes care of me. I can call him up and say, ‘I need a loan.’ In short order, he gets it rolling and taken care of for me. In fact, I get the help I need and great service from all the associates I talk with at the bank.”
And that extends, as far as Tom is concerned, all the way to the top. “My encounters with Terry [Terry Taylor, president, Oak Bank] have been awesome, and Bob [Bob Gorsuch, chairman and founder, Oak Bank] is a great guy, too. He’s a down-to-earth and genuine guy, which you don’t always see from guys in positions like that.”
Banking done family-style
As someone who has switched banks in the past because of the poor customer service he was receiving, Tom knows a thing or two about bad banking vs. good, and what it’s like to make a switch. “If you’re looking to change banks, it would be a seamless transition from your old bank to Oak Bank. Without a doubt, the people there will take care of you a hundred times better than what you’re getting now.”
Treating Tom like part of the family is second nature to Oak Bank’s team, as Tom explains: “When we transferred all my loans over, it was so seamless. Unbelievably painless. Even when I go in to make a deposit, everybody greets you like a family. ‘Hey, I can take care of you.’ ‘How are you doing?’ ‘How’s your day?’ It feels like I walked into my own house, and it’s a truly great experience.”
