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As a Louisiana-based community bank, what is JD Bank’s unique value proposition to perspective borrowers as compared to national banks?
We could all say that a bank is a bank is a bank. A checking account is a checking account. Those things are true … until you need a personal and trusted relationship with your banker to resolve an issue. Financial issues do not age well, and we are here to dive into the details with our clients. Whether it be a personal issue, a family matter, a residential construction concern, a commercial project complication – having someone to call and someone who picks up the phone and recognizes you becomes critical. This is the relationship that we share with our clients as we work together to find solutions. That’s what we want to be known for at JD Bank, and that’s what we strive for every single day. As our bank’s President recently said: “There’s no shortage of banks, but there’s certainly a shortage of banks like us.”
How are you approaching interest rates, and how should borrowers approach them?
My advice is always to think about the viability of the entire project, not to solely focus on the interest rate. When we think about viability, we think about the structure of the project, how the bank can support it, the client’s business and personal financial picture … all of it collectively. If these things are in order, then absolutely you should move forward. Making sure a project can sustain itself – that there’s a cushion built in there in the event of additional rate changes – is a critical part of the puzzle. If interest rates don’t come down, or they creep back up, that cushion helps you satisfy the demands of your business and personal finances so you can continue to move forward. I have seen the waiting game set commercial borrowers behind their competition when we come out of a cycle. That’s something a borrower needs to think about: “What is my liquidity position, how important is this project to my business continuation or growth, and where do I want to be at the end of this cycle?” Not solely, “What’s the rate today?” If you have a viable project that can stand on its own with a qualified borrower., you absolutely should not play the waiting game.
All politics is local. So is all real estate. What sets Baton Rouge and the Capital Region apart?
When I think of Baton Rouge, I think of a port city. I think of the state capital. I think of two vibrant interstate systems in I-10 and I-12 running through it. I think of cultural uniqueness, which lends to the happiness of families and the employee base for a business that’s going to call Baton Rouge home. I think of a flagship SEC university near the heart of the city. We have the mighty Mississippi running through the middle of it all. We also have a unique mix of rural and urban spaces which allows any business the opportunity to grow. Whether you’re a family or a business, whether your business is retail, industrial, commercial, warehouse, medical … no matter what you’re building, buying or leasing, there’s a home for you here in our capital city.
The way people live and work is changing. How has your business changed to keep up?
JD Bank understands the evolution of the real estate market. We understand the way that borrowers and investors are living and working and how the market has changed. As a progressive community bank, we’re not afraid to step into meaningful projects that other banks are not supporting. Not only are we expanding services like commercial and residential construction lending, but we are also focused on continually making banking more convenient. Technology has caused customer service at many banks to decline and become less personable. As “Louisiana’s Community Bank,” our team is committed to continually improving and providing personalized service. Humans answer our phones with a smile. You will not walk into a JD Bank location and hear, “I’m sorry, we can’t see you because you don’t have an appointment today.” We will never become that bank. As we innovate and modernize, we stay true to our core value, which is to be by our client’s side as they need us.
Success in real estate is a long game. What is your long-term outlook for this market, and your business?
We have nearly an 80-year history on the other side of the Atchafalaya Basin. We came to Baton Rouge in 2022 with a loan production office, and we have purchased property on Jefferson Hwy across from the Baton Rouge Country Club that we plan to open in Q4 of this year with a full-service retail bank. We’re here to stay. We don’t get wrapped up in political dramatics. We keep our eyes focused on where JD Bank and the communities we serves are going. We are also not looking to expand outside of Louisiana. We want to focus our resources on this footprint and be the best community bank in the state. We look forward to sharing that with Baton Rouge and being an active participant in the growth of this area.
