I established my bank in 1988.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
I happen to know a bit about banking.
Rather than going through a commercial banking training program, at the first bank I ever worked in, I was the chairman. And it was my own money, so we loaned it out like it was my own money.
We were the first bank to start a loan modification at IndyMac and had a very good record of working with the regulators.
Until 1998, I worked in marketing at ASB bank. I loved it.
I got started in 1995, working in a group called The Cash Money Click.
I was an accidental banker. To please my parents, I went for an interview with Chase Manhattan Bank in 1983. They promised to send me into their offices in more than 40 countries and essentially audit the practices. It was an extraordinary job.
I was in the equity-trading department at Merrill Lynch. I was there in 1987 when the market crashed.
I do remember that I was very relieved that I did not have to go into a bank with them. I had, as you recall, I had already been brought into a bank before and it was better to be sitting outside.
This is our 40th year in business. We don't have a single penny from outside investors, and we never borrowed heavily from the banks. We have a healthy balance sheet and more credit than we can use.
Well, I just bought a massive bank and I've moved into it on my own.