Aron Dowell joined OlyFed in September 2018 as an Assistant Branch Manager. He was promoted to Business Relationship Banker three years later and Assistant Vice President in April 2024. Outside of work, Dowell was recently named a South Sound Business Magazine’s 40 Under 40 honoree and graduated from Leadership Thurston County, a year-long immersive experience in acquiring a broad understanding of South Puget Sound’s complex issues. Aron comes from a family of entrepreneurs. He developed a passion for business when he was young while working on the family farm.

5:30 a.m.

With a 9-month-old daughter, life starts early in the Dowell house. Mornings include plenty of diapers, bottles and before-work snuggles.

7:00 a.m.

Aron and his wife start the day together over coffee. “I live in Rochester where Starbucks is our only sit-down coffee shop,” he explains, “so we often see neighbors and friends there as we take this moment to slow down and enjoy each other’s company before the craziness of the day sets in.”

8:00 a.m.

Dowell arrives at the downtown Olympia OlyFed branch. After scanning his inbox, it’s time for the team huddle. “Huddles are an opportunity to connect with our team, talk about goals, learn about new products or just have some fun together,” says Dowell. “For today’s huddle, I gave a short talk to the team about Positive Pay, an important security feature that helps businesses protect against fraudulent activity.”

9:00 a.m.

Aron then checks in with Assistant Vice President and Downtown Branch Manager Lindsey and Business Relationship Banker Chris to plan the day. On this day, Chris is heading to their Hawks Prairie branch and Dowell has customer meetings in Olympia.

9:30 a.m.

Then client meetings begin! First, a business customer wants to discuss merchant services for payment processing. It’s a mobile business, so managing funds on the go is vital. Dowell recommends OlyFed’s partnership with Select Bankcard is a good fit and works with the customer to create customized solutions tailored to their needs.

10:30 a.m.

Then it’s time to visit the Yelm Highway branch. “Chris and I visit the branches often to work with their staff, train them on new products or help them onboard new business customers,” says Dowell. “Today the Yelm Highway branch had a customer who has their personal accounts with us but is looking to move their business accounts to OlyFed as well.”

Noon

Dowell seldom slows down so working lunches are par for the course. Whether customer meetings or networking events like a Chamber forum, there’s always something on the calendar. Today he’s checking in with Monique at Ossa Skinworks.

“One of the best parts of my job,” says Dowell, “is unique to OlyFed. It’s that relationships with our customers go beyond transactions and banking products. I love sitting down with our customers like this to better understand their business and their goals at all stages of the business relationship. We’re talking planning, available resources through agencies like the Thurston Economic Development Council and even helping them find grant or scholarship opportunities.”

2:00 p.m.

On the road again, this time with Business Loan Officer Scott Gunther. This afternoon’s customer wants to expand to a bigger location and hopes to learn more about digital banking options on evenings and weekends. “It’s important they have the tools and resources to get things done when it’s convenient for them,” says Dowell. The company also has many new employees. Gunther and Dowell discuss OlyFed’s ACH services which can help reduce the fees they’re facing with their current payroll company.

3:00 p.m.

Dowell then meets with a local housing nonprofit to help develop a plan for building financial reserves, funding future projects, planning for retirement and handling cash flow. OlyFed’s Outreach Checking and Outreach Certificate of Deposit (CD) are designed for nonprofits. “One of the things I love most about OlyFed,” he explains, “is our dedication to investing in the community. Beyond these meetings to help our nonprofit partners, we also offer customized on-site financial education classes for their employees.”

5:30 p.m.

After clearing his inbox, Dowell heads home for family time. After more snuggles and playtime, he reads his daughter a bedtime story and then tucks her in for the night not long after. Then the grownups tidy, cook and enjoy supper together and veg out before things start again bright and early.

To learn more about any of the OlyFed products and services Aron described, please contact him or visit a nearby branch.