Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing
Adrienne Riddle, a Westfield resident, has been named Community First Bank’s first and only treasury management officer. Riddle, who has been in banking for 25 years, predominantly on the commercial side, is excited to join the team at Community First Bank in Noblesville.
“Treasury management is working with our commercial clients — their deposits and ancillary services to help expedite their cash flow,” Riddle says. “So, essentially it’s tools like online banking with ACH (Automated Clearing House) and wire transfer capabilities as well as remote deposits.”
She also mentions fraud prevention tools like Positive Pay.
“Community First Bank has offered these services for some period of time but has never had a dedicated treasury management officer that specializes in these products,” says Riddle, who has prior experience at regional-sized commercial banks. “The larger banks often lose sight of balancing what’s appropriate for the clients and customers — what their client’s real needs are versus generating revenue from a bank perspective. That really becomes the main focus whereas in a community bank we truly do want to service the needs of our clients in the community.”
That’s precisely what attracted Riddle to the job. That and the people. Currently, she’s meeting the bank’s existing client base, working in conjunction with the commercial lenders. Her favorite part of the job is learning the different businesses and industries.
“It’s amazing what people are doing,” Riddle says. “Getting to know the client and business in terms of what their specific needs or goals are — that’s really exciting.”
She notes that one of the nice things about joining an organization of this size is the flexibility in what they can do.
“We can customize service solutions that really meet customer needs whereas with large banks, they’ll tell you, ‘You fit in this box so go here,’” says Riddle, who in her new role will be helping build out the product set as well as servicing existing clients and engaging in business development.
“I can’t tell you how exciting it is for me to be here. Sometimes in life you get in a rut, but here they really value the opinion of the employees who are working with the clients,” says Riddle, noting that the bank is building two new Westfield locations in upcoming months.
Riddle is married to her husband of 18 years, Mike. They have a 21-year-old daughter, Kylene, who is a junior at IUPUI, working on a degree in business. They also have a 16-year-old son, Jacob, a junior at Westfield High School.
In her spare time, she likes to cook, garden and engage in volunteer work with Hamilton County’s Meals on Wheels where she delivers food to seniors with dietary restrictions. Riddle, a huge animal lover, is the proud owner of Wrigley, a 3-year-old Golden Retriever as well as a 14-year-old gray tiger cat named Mr. P.
“He’s polydactyl and enjoys batting at Wrigley with his giant paws,” says Riddle, who also volunteers at the Hamilton County Humane Society, a no-kill shelter.
On most weekends, however, you’ll find Riddle on a field of some sort.
“My son is active in high school athletics, playing both football and baseball,” Riddle says. “So I spend Friday nights tailgating and going to the games.”
