We sat down with regional president David Andersen to learn more about his path to UMB and his passion for the Utah community, service and people.

Tell us a little about yourself and how you came to UMB.

I was raised in Anchorage, Alaska, and after high school moved to the “lower 48” where I served for two years as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. During that two-year break from academics, I gained solemn respect for humanity and the value of service, including the power it unleashes among people and communities. I still treasure the diverse cultures I served and the lessons they taught me.

After that, I went to school at Brigham Young University – Idaho where I completed a bachelor’s degree in business management and finance, and later a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Colorado State University.

My career path has not been linear. My experience in banking has been as adventurous as it has been rewarding—in ways I could not have planned. My career began with Wells Fargo in 2009 at the height of the Great Recession. Some would consider 2009 “not ideal” for starting a banking career, although I found that learning the ins and outs of the business during economic uncertainty was, surprisingly, the best time to do so.

I spent the first decade of my career holding various producer and leadership roles across the business and commercial bank in two markets: California and Colorado. With a solid background in commercial banking, it didn’t take long to recognize there was something unique and special about UMB Bank.

I joined UMB in February 2020 as a commercial banking team lead in Colorado. Once again, I could not have started at a better time with the COVID-19 epidemic hitting only a month after I joined. I describe this as ideal timing because this global event allowed me to see the strength of the bank during uncertain times. Those early days at UMB showed me that the power and values of a bank are held with our associates and felt by our customers regardless of macroeconomic conditions.

You moved to Utah to expand UMB’s presence. What have the last four years looked like across the state?

In August 2022, I was given the privilege to expand UMB’s banking brand and footprint by taking on the role as market president of UMB Bank in Utah. The transition has been full of blue-collar grit and the most rewarding part of my career. Entrepreneurship at its finest and once-in-a-career opportunity.

The Utah story continues to be one that attracts people who are passionate about building a banking brand from scratch in a new market. Utah remains one of the fastest growth markets in UMB history, making a significant impact on the company’s balance sheet.

With the opening of our first Utah retail branch in January 2026, we now operate six business lines in Utah, including fund services and corporate trust services, with more than 268 UMB associates.

What is your vision for the market now that you’ve opened the first branch?

We are building something special in Utah. Being with UMB for several years before taking on my current role as regional president has been critical because it has allowed me to understand and articulate the full value of UMB Bank. The culture our customers describe about UMB is one of trust and confidence, both of which have always been at our core.

My vision for Utah is simple and can be summed up with three principles: people, strength, and consistency. We are building a strong culture that provides our customers with exceptional talent, the bank continues to show financial strength, and we offer consistency through every economic cycle. All three of these components have been in UMB’s DNA for 113 years.

What do you love about your job and the banking industry?

The people.

As my career has aged, I have learned an important principle—the strength of any organization is centered in its people, both associates and customers. The people principle is an art, infused in our culture, starting at the top with the most senior of UMB’s leadership team.

One of the secret sauces at UMB is that we enable our leaders to build strong relationships with our teams and customers rather than managing from a distance. UMB leaders are active participants in the customer experience. Our UMB leaders are deeply connected in our customers’ credit process and dedicated to onboarding all their banking services.

Banking is not a transaction for UMB, it is a generational commitment that we take ownership in. Our leaders lead by example and empower our associates to deliver the UMB culture directly to the customer, bringing ownership in the customer experience.

The true test of an organization’s culture is examined and graded by the customer, and at UMB, our customers tell our story the best. They tell us we are different than anything they have experienced in banking before, that they have a trusted team at UMB who understands their needs and are confident UMB will support them through all economic cycles.

What drives you and what are you most passionate about?

There are a few big drivers in my life that I am passionate about: collaborating with clients, my family, and academics.

On the client side, I am extremely passionate about proactively sharing ideas and working with clients toward success. I know it’s easy to say that, but it’s unique and almost abnormal to see our industry execute collectively with their clients. Remember, these are customers that have done extremely well with their businesses for decades, and they are now looking for bankers they can trust and proactively position themselves for the best future. We work with them strategically and give direction or advice on how we can best help them.

My family is another huge motivator for me. I enjoy the happiness that comes from my wife and kids. We are proud parents of two girls and three boys. If we are not at a basketball game, football game, ice skating practice or snowboarding, we are enjoying time together playing board games or tackling the next school project. Outside of my family, I am very involved in my church and my community.

Tell us more about your involvement in the community.

I have always believed it is not what we give but how we give that makes an impact, and Utah has a unique culture that promotes community service both locally and nationally. With two brothers in the military, I welcomed the invitation to serve nationally with American Corporate Partners as a mentor to veterans and their families who are transitioning into the corporate and civilian workforce.

I have also found it rewarding to support The Salt Lake Chamber as a member of the board of governors, the Mountain West Capital Network and the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Utah. I also volunteer as a ride coach for a local youth mountain biking team and frequently participate in other children and youth mentorship groups.

Tell us about one of your greatest professional successes.

I am passionate about proactively working side-by-side with our customers to help them win in today’s business environment. I believe who our customers choose to do business with matters, and as a banking leader, I take that responsibility personally.

When I think about professional successes, I first evaluate our customers’ experience. As we help them meet their financial goals, they are successful. It’s a symbiotic relationship. When our customers succeed, we succeed. When we provide a growing business a line of credit to support their working capital needs, that is success. The company uses our funds to keep liquidity on their balance sheet, which enables them to grow revenue, hire employees, invest in assets—and ultimately support our economy and community.

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