Michael Reed, a financial expert with more than 15 years of lending experience, is the newest addition to our Cleveland team. As a Bradley County native, he says he looks forward to serving his community as a commercial loan officer.
“I’m proud to serve the communities of Cleveland and Bradley County,” Reed said. “And I enjoy working with a network of friends and colleagues to help my customers accomplish their goals.”
Reed says he chose SouthEast Bank because of its reputation and quality of work.
“The word ‘quality’ comes to mind,” said Reed. “The quality of the people, the quality of the organization. That was one of the biggest things that drew me in.”
Reed brings a wealth of financial expertise to the SouthEast Bank team and looks forward to sharing his knowledge. We’re proud to introduce him in our latest Get to Know blog.
Finding the Right Fit
Reed didn’t always plan to work in banking, but his passion for serving others and bettering his community made the career path a natural fit.
He says his original plan was to become a veterinarian. In his early career, he managed a family farm, and in that role, he discovered he enjoyed managing, organizing and building professional relationships.
After talking with a friend who worked in the financial industry, Reed realized the many talents he exercised at the farm could translate into a successful lending career. He pursued a role as a financial services officer working with agricultural loans and enjoyed great success, leveraging his existing knowledge to provide exceptional customer service.
“In college, I started out thinking about the veterinary path,” Reed said. “And after graduation, I knew I wanted to do something that allowed me to stay involved in that community. That’s where my financial career started – working with agricultural, land and construction loans.”
Connected to His Community
As a long-time resident of Bradley County, Reed says the community is special to him.
“I was born and raised in Cleveland,” said Reed. “I graduated from Bradley Central High School, then went on to Cleveland State Community College. Further in my education, I went to the University of Tennessee at Martin.”
Since then, Reed has developed even deeper roots in the Cleveland community, sharing his love of East Tennessee’s outdoors with his family. He says they enjoy hiking and adventuring to waterfalls in their free time.
“I’ve got four boys, and my wife and I will be married 17 years in August,” said Reed. “We love getting out and about, chasing waterfalls and finding different hiking spots.”
In their day-to-day lives, Reed and his family are involved in their church and in after-school activities. His oldest son plays baseball and football, and Reed says his younger sons are also beginning to develop interests in different sports.
Reed also invests his time in local professional organizations, serving as a member of the Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation Board and the Ocoee Region FCA.
Leading by Example
Reed believes in leading by example, whether he’s building up his team or finding solutions for customers. In his position with SouthEast Bank, he’s focused on going above and beyond to find the right financial solutions for his customers.
“Life is about others,” Reed said. “Professionally, that translates to focusing on others and their success. When we find financial solutions that are good for our customers, ultimately, that’s also good for the bank.”
Looking to the future, Reed is excited to dive more deeply into his lending role and drive value for the Bradley County community.
“I’m focused on how I can help my customers achieve their goals,” said Reed. “From problem-solving to connecting people with the right resources, I can support our customers in many different ways.”
Connect With Our Team
If you’re looking for a financing solution in Cleveland, Michael Reed is ready to help. Visit our Cleveland branch page for branch hours and contact information, and let us know how we can support you in achieving your goals.
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Information contained in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing contained in this blog should be construed as legal or tax advice. An attorney or tax advisor should be consulted for advice on specific issues.
