Amanda Garcia took the helm as new Branch Manager at Enterprise Bank & Trust in Los Alamos in May, following the retirement of Nadine Martinez.

“What drew me to this opportunity was the chance to make a positive impact,” Garcia said who is a resident of Los Alamos. “I enjoy leading teams, developing employees and building strong client relationships and I see this role as a place where those strengths can really make a difference as well as the opportunity to help strengthen the branch’s presence in the community.”

Garcia explained that she will define success in her first one to two years in the job as building a branch that clients trust, employees enjoy being a part of and leadership sees as consistently performing.

“Financial results are important, but I believe those results are a byproduct of having a strong team and delivering a great client experience.,” she said.

Enterprise Bank & Trust Regional President Liddie Martinez commended Garcia.

“We welcomed Amanda into the Enterprise Bank fold last month and she has quickly taken the helm to lead as our new Branch Manager,” Martinez said. “She is a friendly, experienced banker who brings years of expertise and a commitment to our Los Alamos Market to deliver outstanding service in a professional environment. We are delighted!”

Garcia shared her plan for building and empowering her team. 

“Banking products can be similar across institutions, so the customer experience often becomes the differentiator. As a manager I will focus on coaching, developing and supporting the team so that service, accountability and relationship development become part of the branch’s daily culture,” she said. “I like to give employees ownership, autonomy and opportunities to develop new skills. When people feel trusted and understand how their contributions impact the branch’s success, they are more engaged and confident in their roles. I want my team to feel empowered to make decisions, solve problems and take ownership of the customer experience. My role as a manager is to provide direction, remove obstacles and help people develop confidence and skills to be successful in their roles and to be an integral part of the community they serve.” 

Garcia addressed what she sees as the biggest challenges and opportunities in her position as branch manager.

“What stands out to me is the opportunity to strengthen relationships in the community. Change whether recent or a change that occurred a few years ago can sometimes leave clients feeling disconnected, so creating a consistently positive experience can make a big impact,” she said. “The challenge is making sure the team is aligned around that experience every day and creating a culture where every interaction reflects that commitment. Ultimately my goal is to create an environment where people feel supported, accountable and comfortable bringing ideas forward.”

She added that the bank will continue its strong practice of supporting local nonprofits, community events, and civic organizations.

So how does Garcia spend her free time?

“I’m a relaxer!” she said. “I like to do crafts, take walks out on one of our many beautiful trails, and hang out with my cats while listening to podcasts.”