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The non-bank lender’s senior VP and chief lending officer has celebrated a career milestone, having reached a quarter of a century at the lender.
Cory Bannister, La Trobe Financial’s senior vice president and chief lending officer, has reached a significant career milestone, celebrating 25 years at the non-bank lender.
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Bannister started his time at the business as lending manager for the southern region and has filled a number of high-profile roles including head of credit and executive head of distribution.
The non-bank lender paid tribute to Bannister in a post on social media platform LinkedIn, acknowledging a career that started in a finance role before he “discovered his true passion for credit”.
Speaking to The Adviser, Bannister reflected on his time at La Trobe Financial, and said he’d never felt as though he had a reason to leave.
“I have had the privilege to work alongside some amazingly talented people, that are equally great to work with, and the company has a fantastic culture where sure, we work hard, but we have fun whilst we are doing it and no-one takes themselves too seriously,” Bannister said.
Bannister spoke about the sense of opportunity he’d felt during his 25 years at La Trobe Financial, where he’d had the chance to work in every area of the business, except the tech division.
“That’s a rare and incredible thing to be able to do in one place, and it’s not uncommon at La Trobe Financial,” he added.
Bannister also commented on the “incredible growth trajectory” the business has followed during the past decade.
“To work in a fast-moving, agile environment is both fun and rewarding, and in a way, it feels like I have been working in a new business every two to three years, such is the rate of change,” he said.
“The most satisfying achievement has been to grow with the company, seeing it go from being a relatively unknown niche non-bank financial institution here in Australia, to a brand that is now well-known and respected on a global scale as one of Australia’s leading alternative asset Managers.
“Playing a small part in that transformation is something that I will look back on fondly at the end of my career, which I hope is still a long time away.”
Looking back on lessons he’d learned during his career, Bannister encouraged those in a similar position to where he’d started in the industry to be eager to step out of their comfort zone.
He said it’s equally important to learn how to balance the urge to start tasks and seek opportunities with the patience to reap the rewards.
“Take what you are doing very seriously, [but] don’t take yourself too seriously, and above all, be yourself,” he added.
But the most important thing, according to Bannister, is to be passionate about the work.
“I love what I do, and I love what we do at La Trobe Financial,” he said.
“I am incredibly proud of the role we play in helping deliver financial solutions that make some people’s dreams a reality. We play a meaningful role in society and the responsibility and gravitas of that is not lost on me.”
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