Melanie Velasquez, UMB Bank New Mexico market president and native New Mexican, discusses her career path and how facing challenges has made her a better leader.
Finding a way to banking
Born and raised in Albuquerque, my roots and love for the community and New Mexican culture run deep. I am a proud graduate of the University of New Mexico, and my time there prepared me for the challenges of navigating a career post-graduation. While pursuing my degree in communications and journalism, I worked as a teller at Bank of America (BoA), which, to this day, I still say is the best role at the bank. Interacting with clients, serving as the eyes and ears to customers’ challenges and earning the trust of everyone who walked through the door taught me many invaluable lessons that I still rely on today. I also went through my first acquisition while at BoA and traveled to Arizona to help with the conversion—another experience that helped lay the foundation for what would ultimately turn into a career I love.
Armed with a double major in communication/journalism and Spanish, I moved to Phoenix in 2001 to pursue television and radio, but, like many industries, everything changed when 9/11 occurred. Due to uncertainty in the media industry, I returned to banking with a role at Johnson Bank on the commercial team; this is where my career in commercial and industrial (C&I) lending began in earnest. I didn’t know where this career would take me, but I knew, based on my previous experience, that I was passionate about the industry and it’s where I wanted to be.
Melanie Velazquez and her family
Honing industry skills
My focus at Johnson Bank was on commercial lending, and through the guidance of my mentors there, I was prepared for the ups and downs of the financial industry. After Johnson Bank, I continued my career at different institutions, taking lessons from each stop in my journey that have made me the banker I am today. From learning the ins and outs of lending and underwriting and strong sales strategies at Wells Fargo to becoming a team lead and growing commercial into a $3 billion book of business at Bank of the West, I took advantage of every opportunity to learn from incredible mentors.
I moved to New Mexico Bank & Trust in 2023 to pursue a business development opportunity. As an Albuquerque native, it meant a lot to me to come to a bank with such a strong reputation in New Mexico—somewhere I could see and feel the impact I’m making and get back to banking with a personal touch based on solid, long-term relationships.
Navigating changes
While exciting and fulfilling, my career in banking has not been without its challenges. In my nearly 30 years in the industry, I have been through four acquisitions, including the recent acquisition of HTLF by UMB. Navigating these changes taught me that taking care of people is the priority—in calm times and during uncertainty.
Importance of mentorship and giving back
I am a huge proponent of mentorship and giving back—both in business and in the community— and those values are a big part of what drives me today.
Professionally, mentorship offers cross-market and organizational exposure, brings different perspectives together and opens the door for candid, productive conversations.
Personally, giving back, whether through mentorship opportunities in the community or donating time to a cause you are passionate about, provides a deep sense of responsibility to lift others up and to use my talents to make Albuquerque a better place.
The future of the bank is bright in New Mexico, and I am excited to be part of what’s next—for the team, New Mexico community and our clients.
Goals for 2025 and beyond
First and foremost, my goal is to continue to grow with our business community and to provide customers with the service and means to achieve their goals. We do not take lightly the importance of our role in understanding our clients and their businesses and walking side by side with them to help navigate challenges and opportunities together. Our team delivers a high level of professionalism and a committed focus to our clients and community, and I am confident we have the people in place to continue growing, building relationships and making an impact across New Mexico.
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