When small business owners want to grow, they know who to talk to: FSC First’s very own “Money Man,” Vice President of Business Development, Steward Smith.
Steward brings a wealth of experience to FSC First. He has been with FSC First for ten years but has more than 40 years of experience in the field. Steward got his first banking job while still in college and began as a management trainee for Comerica Bank in Michigan after graduation. He remained in that role before returning to Washington, DC, in 1986
After moving, Steward was hired as a branch manager and ultimately became an assistant vice president for a few branches of Perpetual Savings Bank before its acquisition by Crestar Bank. While with Crestar, Steward became a senior vice president in 1996 and regional manager for the DC market and remained after Crestar’s acquisition by SunTrust. In that role, he oversaw 15 branches.
Before coming to FSC First, Steward worked for Mission Square Retirement, formerly ICMA-RC, a nonprofit organization that manages retirement plans for public sector employees.
Throughout his career, Steward says, he’s prized the opportunity to help both businesses and individuals thrive. He takes the time to analyze individual clients’ financial status to help tailor solutions to them.
“I’m an action-oriented person when it comes to my clients. I put them at the top of the house and provide them with great customer service,” Steward says. “I have conversations with them to evaluate their present and future needs, so I can bring the right solutions to the table and help them sustain their growth. My passion is to help, and I take that very seriously.”
Helping businesses thrive, Steward says, is important to him because it’s also a matter of helping Maryland and Prince George’s County thrive. With decades of experience in the DMV area, Steward has also formed connections throughout the region. He estimates that he attends over 100 events annually and speaks to thousands of people between them about the benefits of FSC First’s 13 distinct loan programs.
“I’ve helped several businesses gain the ability to buy property, which has been a blessing for them. I’ve also enabled several start-up owners to fulfill their dreams and get funding to start their day-to-day operations,” Steward says. “I’ve been doing this for so long that people I’ve worked with in the past will introduce me to others as ‘The Money Man.’ People know that when they need money for their business to let me be a part of that conversation.”
Steward says there’s nothing like sitting with clients at the closing table, but he equally enjoys helping business owners figure out the missing pieces they need to acquire to secure funding. He also makes it a point to stay in touch after the papers are signed.
“It’s all about demystifying the process for them,” says Steward. “It’s all about rapport and letting them know that I’m here and care about them. I help them maneuver through the capital access highway.”
To learn more about how Steward and the FSC First team can help your small business, visit https://fscfirst.com/learn/programs/.
