A Very Special Banker

Sometimes a very special person comes along and makes the world a different and better place. Debbi Hurd Baptist, President and CEO of City First Bank of D.C. was just such a person. City First is a community development bank - the first of its kind in the District of Columbia. Debbi was a central, essential force behind the organization of the Bank and served as its first CEO.

City First Bank is located on 14th Street in an area that has been depressed since the riots in the '60s. People who live near there would tell you that it had been depressed much longer than that. The Bank is located right there to be in the center of its assessment area and target market: the part of D.C. that needs redevelopment; the part of D.C. that needs a bank. City First opened its doors in 1998 and has been growing and making a difference ever since.

Debbi Hurd Baptist's experience was perfect for the job. She grew up in the District of Columbia and graduated from McKinley High School. With a bachelors degree in economics from Smith College, a masters degree in city planning from Harvard University, and an MBA in finance from George Washington University, Debbi had all of the academic qualifications that could be asked for. For a woman starting a career in the '70s, credentials were required and careers were not easy.

Debbi's career was awesome. She worked at the DC Redevelopment Land Agency, the National Cooperative Bank, the Arnold and Porter Consulting Group, HUD, and Comprehensive Marketing Systems. She capped her pre-bank career at Freddie Mac as the Director of Community Development Investments in the Multifamily Division.

She rounded out the work side of her career by participation in related functions, including serving on the boards of the National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders, and Homes for America. Debbi saw the whole job of community reinvestment and participated personally in every phase.

Debbi prevailed in every challenge she faced except the challenge of breast cancer. On November 6, 2000 Debbi lost that battle at the age of 51. Debbi will be sorely missed, but she left the world and the District of Columbia a better place.

In physical stature, Debbi was tiny. But her heart and her ability were enormous. In fact, in her presence, you knew that you were meeting with a very big person. The enormous personality - ability, determination, and all - somehow fit into a tiny package.

As president and CEO of City First, Debbi was the consummate banker and the consummate community development lending specialist. Among the tributes in her memory is one that describes the perfect CRA banker. One of her loyal bank customers and service providers describes how Debbi walked him through the process of dealing with banks and bankers. In his words, Debbi "showed him the boardroom." With her help and guidance, he now knows how to approach banks, how to talk with bankers, and how to manage his banking relationships. When you come right down to it, that is one of the most wonderful things that could be said about a banker at the end of her career. And it is what CRA is all about.

Someday, the area around 14th Street will be economically vital. So will a much wider area in the District of Columbia. This doesn't happen by accident. It happens because of people like Debbi Hurd Baptist. Thank you Debbi for all you did and for the inspiration you leave behind. May more of us be like you.

Copyright © 2000 Compliance Action. Originally appeared in Compliance Action, Vol. 5, No. 14, 12/00