Ryan Bateman
Loan Officer
Bank of Hazlehurst, Hazlehurst
Group 8 Rep., 2021-2022 GBA Agriculture Committee
Q: What was your first job, and was there a lesson you learned there that you still use today?
A: I was a salesman at a Honda ATV and motorcycle dealership. I learned how to deal with different kinds of people. I was somewhat shy in high school and college, so that was new to me. I learned that getting out of your comfort zone can be a good thing because it can help you grow.
Q: What was the most useful piece of advice you received from a mentor or in the early/formative years of your career?
A: "Trust your gut." If you have a bad feeling about something, there is probably a reason for that.
Q: Tell us about one experience you’ve had that exemplifies being a banker, such as a service story that really helped a customer or a quirky story.
A: During the chaos of the pandemic, I realized how much some normalcy can help ease the community. People couldn’t dine at their favorite restaurant, watch a movie at the theater or do many other things they had grown accustomed to being able to do. It made me proud to be a part of our community and the Bank of Hazlehurst when I watched our team make sure we provided services to the community as safely as possible. Maybe someone had to use the drive thru to get a new debit card or make an appointment to be able to speak to a loan officer. Through the pandemic, we made sure that we were able to serve our community like so many other banks did across the state, and we made sure their bank was there to assist them however they needed us to.
Q: Top Three…
- First tap/click of the day? Wherever I can find Atlanta Braves or Georgia Bulldogs news and/or highlights, even in the offseason.
- Pet peeve? I hate breaking my routine. I’m a creature of habit that likes to keep the same schedule.
- TV show or series you love? I’m going to cheat, because I can’t pick just one. My two favorite shows on right now are Succession and Ted Lasso.
Q: What would someone be surprised to learn about you?
A: I always cut my own hair and don’t use a mirror, but that may be more obvious than I think.