Michael Holland: Market President for Mobile, Bryant Bank

The Mobile native talks about what led him to banking, the industry’s recent big changes and why Bryant Bank is investing in the local community.

photography by Kevin Zhou

Michael Holland likes putting a well-thought-out plan into action. And if there is a team component to that plan and its successful execution, all the better. He enjoys the calculated risk and putting himself “out there” to achieve an objective. This natural propensity, further developed during his years studying at the United States Military Academy and serving in the U.S. Army, has become the backbone of his decades-long, successful banking career, where community, service and new ideas have remained at the forefront.

A Mobile native, Holland joined the banking industry in 1992, following his four years of active duty in the U.S. Army, at the encouragement of his father. There were some tenets of the industry that appealed to him, so he agreed to give it a try. It turned out Holland had landed on a career that suited his strengths, and he hasn’t looked back since. He spent 15 years at a large regional bank and then 12 years at another, where he launched the bank into the Mobile market. In 2019, he joined Bryant Bank as market president and has led its “de novo” entry into Mobile. Amidst this busy career and a full family life, Holland pursued and graduated from the Louisiana State University Graduate School of Banking.

More recently, Holland and his team have been anticipating the opening of Bryant Bank’s new Mobile headquarters located at 3680 Dauphin Street. Construction on the three-story building began a year ago and symbolizes the bank’s commitment to the Mobile community, said Holland. The full-service branch will feature a spacious lobby, drive-thru ATM, dedicated loan departments, and a state-of-the-art community room, along with professional office space for lease to third parties. With the grand opening of the new location on the horizon, your author (AB) asked if Holland (MH) would carve out a little time to answer some questions for Bay Business News, and he was kind enough to oblige.

AB: As a lifelong Mobilian, what does the city mean to you personally and professionally?

MH: Growing up, I had no idea how perfectly our city is positioned in regard to intermodal transportation. Our port and its connectivity to rail and the interstate system is an economic engine for our city and region. Mobile is blessed to have had (and it continues to have!) community-minded, philanthropic residents who have made our city unique. What other city has Mardi Gras, a battleship and the Senior Bowl?!

AB: How did growing up here shape your values and leadership style?

MH: The unique events we celebrate every year do not just happen. They require many volunteers with diverse skill sets to make them succeed. Being asked by community leaders many years ago to help with civic events and programs and now asking younger Mobilians to get involved is how these unique events perpetuate.

AB: You spent four years at West Point and four more on active duty in the U.S. Army. What lessons from military service still influence you and how you lead today?

MH: I learned to never walk by a mistake and to never ask anyone to do something that you are not willing to do yourself. Trusting your team grows them and your organization. Teams accomplish goals; individuals participate.

AB: Was banking always the plan, or did that career path develop over time?

MH: I had no idea what path I wanted to follow when I exited the Army. I engaged a placement firm and interviewed with sales and operational companies across the Southeast. Then my dad suggested I interview with several banks in town. He helped schedule the interviews.

AB: What originally attracted you to the industry?

MH: During the banking interviews (which occurred in 1992), I was attracted to the people I met, appreciated the training plan that was presented and recognized there was tremendous opportunity for a young person willing to learn and work hard. I also discovered that I would be exposed to a lot of different businesses (manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, etc.) and could learn about them and, if presented with the right opportunity, make a change in the future.

AB: Will you speak a little about your early years in banking? What are some of the challenges you faced and lessons you learned that still stick with you today?

MH: I didn’t go to high school or college with a lot of my peer group. I spent eight years away from Mobile while in college and serving in the Army, so I had to meet a lot of people and spend time forming relationships. A simple rule that created a difference for me was doing what I said I would do. Customers and referral sources knew they could count on me. Also, volunteering in civic organizations gave me a chance to meet people and demonstrate my work ethic, which can translate to the workplace.

AB: You helped launch banks into the Mobile market more than once. What appeals to you about building something from the ground up?

MH: Launching a bank or a new company is a “team sport.” It requires a lot of stamina and the courage to put yourself out there and try new things. Having an after-action review and learning from your mistakes is a healthy activity.

AB: What made joining Bryant Bank in 2019 the right move for you?

MH: Bryant Bank is a family-owned business. We make decisions with a long-term focus, and I am aligned with our owners’ values; values like, “We Put Our Family First,” “We Rise By Lifting Others” and “We Empower Potential.” These are all values that mean something to me personally and not just words on a wall. I worked for two publicly traded companies before joining Bryant Bank. Publicly traded firms manage their balance sheets to quarterly analyst expectations, and those decisions do not always align with long-term goals.

AB: What were the biggest challenges of leading Bryant Bank’s “de novo” entry into Mobile?

MH: Finding the best location available (a former Atlanta Bread Company location) and then remodeling it to serve our purpose took longer than I expected. During the remodel phase, the coronavirus hit, so we opened the bank during Covid-19, with drive-thru service only. Typically, one of the biggest challenges for a market president in a new market is building a team that can weather the challenges ahead. I’m very fortunate that the team we have in Mobile has been together for a long time and is truly like family.

AB: How do you define success as a market president?

MH: Successful customers and employees are how I measure success in our market.

AB: How would you describe Bryant Bank’s culture and approach to community banking?

MH: Helping companies succeed and reward their employees improves communities. As companies grow, communities grow. At Bryant Bank, it’s important to us that each customer has their own Bryant banker who they know and call by name. We’re committed to utilizing technology and efficiencies to serve our customers, but we’ll never lose that personal touch that makes community banking special. We do not have a corporate 1-800 call center at Bryant Bank. When you call us, you get a local Bryant banker.

AB: Banking has changed dramatically over the last 30 years. What changes have had the greatest impact?

MH: I have witnessed a lot of changes during my career, mostly because of acquisitions and technology. But I did witness the “dot.com” boom; the housing bust in 2008-2009, resulting in bank failures and government bailouts; and COVID-19, resulting in PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) and ERC (Employee Retention Credit) loans. I teach a history of banking class at the Alabama Banking School, and a lot of banking industry changes resulted from laws enacted after a traumatic economic event.

AB: With technology transforming financial services, where do you see community banking heading over the next decade?

MH: I believe there will always be a place for a community bank. Having the ability to contact your banker directly has value, particularly when fraud is on the rise. Customers need that personal touch with a banker who knows them and knows when something doesn’t smell quite right … more than ever.

AB: What are you most proud of Bryant Bank accomplishing in Mobile so far?

MH: Our bankers do an amazing job working with our customers. A lot of our customers come inside to interact with our tellers and other bankers. In a world that is moving at warp speed, it says a lot for our customers to come inside and say “hello.”

AB: When is the construction of the new Bryant Bank headquarters in Mobile going to be complete? What does this new building symbolize about the bank’s presence and future in Mobile?

MH: We will open on July 20. Our building has reshaped the intersection and not a day goes by when someone doesn’t say something to me about it. In addition to our new office serving our customers, we will also have lease space available. This space will allow us to further connect with businesses and organizations in Mobile committed to the growth of our community.

AB: What motivates you after more than 30 years in banking?

MH: I had a lot of mentors who took an interest in my development over the years, and I have a duty to continue developing future bankers. Helping customers and employees grow is my prime motivation. I always tell customers and prospects to contact me so I can be a resource for them.

AB: Your résumé reflects extensive nonprofit and civic involvement, including with Goodwill Gulf Coast and Feeding the Gulf Coast. Why has community service remained such a priority?

MH: These two agencies, and many others, have great employees with huge hearts for their respective missions. Having the opportunity to share my business experience and be a resource for these agencies and their teams is what is expected from a community servant. One of Bryant Bank’s core values, “We put care into action,” encourages our Bryant bankers to be involved in the community in real, tangible ways.

AB: How do you enjoy spending your time away from the office?

MH: I enjoy outdoor activities like pickleball and golf; I’m still seeking my second hole-in-one. If I can’t find a game, you might find me doing some yard work. I enjoy it when these or other activities involve my family, too.

AB: We heard you have another hobby – announcing Friday night high school football updates on WNSP. What do you enjoy most about it?

MH: Lee Shervanian encouraged me to call the station and deliver “live” updates on his broadcast when he learned I was the stadium announcer for my son’s high school football team. I was reluctant at first, but am glad he kept calling me. I love high school football and the lessons that can be learned by everyone who participates.

AB: What accomplishments are you most proud of that don’t appear in your résumé?

MH: I’m proud of the bankers I have worked with and the progress they have made in their careers. One of the great things about working for a family business that’s not for sale is that I can say this community bank in Mobile will be around a lot longer than I will. I’m most proud of my family, though. My wife, Rhonda, recently retired after 35 years of teaching in an elementary classroom, and both of our boys, Michael Jr., and Matthew, are happily married, have successful careers and have given us two grandchildren.