Banking on It - March 2002

Nevada First Bank

Serving Businesses in Southern Nevada

Nevada First Bank, a Southern Nevada community bank, is primarily focused on providing financial products and services to small- and medium-sized businesses and private banking to business owners and their employees. The bank offers commercial loans, lines of credit, construction loans, term loans, commercial banking accounts and services, personal loans and private banking products and services.

Nevada First Bank opened its doors in January 1998 with one financial center on Sahara Avenue. Just over four years later, it has four financial centers in Southern Nevada, including a brand new corporate center at 777 N. Rainbow Blvd. And it shows no signs of slowing down. As Las Vegas continues to grow, so will the bank. According to Arvind Menon, CFO and executive vice president, Nevada First Bank continues to look for strategic, convenient locations to service its clients. In addition to its local financial centers, the bank has a group of couriers that travel throughout the valley, picking up and dropping off non-cash banking transactions on a daily basis, saving clients valuable time.

The bank’s Cash Management program, designed to help firms manage finances and control cash flow, allow business clients to view summaries of deposit and loan accounts, generate reports, initiate wire transfers, pay federal tax bills electronically and move money between banks. FirstNet Internet banking allows individuals and businesses to access account balances, pay bills, and transfer money between accounts, 24 hours a day.

"The active involvement of our board of directors and their business success has helped propel us to this level of accomplishment," said Dennis Guldin, Nevada First Bank’s CEO and president. "Our board members have helped open many doors for us." Nevada First Bank’s board of directors includes well-known names from many industries, including gaming, broadcasting, medical, advertising and entertainment.

Nevada First Bank has been able to recruit highly regarded professionals in the commercial banking industry away from some of the "big banks." Bill Paredes, formerly with Bank of America’s commercial banking division, heads up the business development, cash management and lending divisions at Nevada First Bank. Paredes brought with him Lisa Robinson, VP/business development and cash management, and Vince Telles, VP/senior commercial business lender. Rachelle Crupi, a Nevada First Bank veteran, is the senior commercial real estate lender. Nevada First Bank also has a small-business banking division, based out of the Sahara Financial Center, which can handle applications for loans through the Small Business Administration.

"Our goal, while staying big enough to meet all our clients’ commercial and banking needs, is never to be too big to lose sight of what’s important – the client," stated Guldin. "We understand that without our clients we wouldn’t be here, and we treat them as such – with professionalism and friendliness. We strive to know each of our clients by name when they walk into or call one of the local financial centers." Guldin explained the bank has eliminated an old banking tradition by allowing any and all of its customers to speak directly to the bank’s decision makers. "Our bank’s officers are not some elusive group. They are available for the customer at any time, day or night," he said.

Guldin, actively involved in the banking industry since 1968, served as executive vice president and chief credit officer with Sun State Bank for five years prior to joining Nevada First Bank in 1997. He also served more than 11 years with First Interstate Bank of Nevada and 10 years with Bank of America. Guldin and his family have lived in Southern Nevada for over 22 years. "Nevada First Bank is committed to ensuring that Southern Nevada’s assets stay in Southern Nevada," said Guldin. "All the deposits generated work to finance local business investments."