There’s something to be said about a woman who devotes her adult life and career to serve her community.
Linda Lee, a woman who held every position at Citizens State Bank within her 48 years there, retired, two weeks ago.
Linda started working at the bank when she was 29. She was excited to just have a job at the bank, but she had no intention of staying there for the next 40 years, at least not on her first day.
“It was exciting to have a job at the bank,” she said. “Does anyone ever think or want to stay at a job that long? It became my life for 48 years.”
After holding each position at the bank, she said her favorite was the one in which she retired from, investments, IRAs, CDs and wires, but her favorite part of all was being in customer service, which was part of each position she held that let her meet so many people along her journey.
After nearly half a century serving the people of Groveton, Lee said that in the beginning, the thing that stands out most was the fact that everything was done with pen and paper. Transitioning from analog to full-time technology was biggest change in her tenure.
While there wasn’t much of an impact made on Linda with this transposition, she said that the unknown of technology was definitely a challenge. However, her first big milestone, that she recalls, was tackling the computer system.
Sometimes, however, it wasn’t computers that were a challenge: Lee said that at one time, she “was locked in the bathroom for over an hour and had to have Mr. Page come take the door off to get me out.”
While Linda said that her family was treated like family by everyone at the bank, closing this chapter means spending more time with them.
“It’s scary, exciting and there’s even a feeling of happiness to be able to spend more time with my husband, kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids,” she said.
First up: “Coffee in the morning after I have slept in with nowhere to be. Time to reflect on where I am and who I am after the years I have given to the bank. And travel to see the world that’s been waiting for me.”
Linda kept referencing her customers, their relationships, this is what kept Linda in the small town bank for so long. The community as a whole drove her to love her time there. Many spoke of her volunteer work within Trinity County, more specifically Groveton.
Susie Hammond said, “Linda Lee, the mother of three beautiful girls. Linda is always the first to greet you when she sees you in the bank.”
She went on to describe Lee as an all-around great person.
Forty-eight years is a long time to spend at any job, especially one with such demand from the community. It’s no wonder that Linda prides herself in customer service and referenced her relationship with her customers so often.
With those 48 years of experience under her belt, Linda said she would advise a young person just starting out in the banking industry to “take it slow. Learn all you can and remember to provide the best customer service with a smile. Take pride in yourself, do the job that needs to be done to advance your career.”
Linda was made for just that kind of service, and the response to her retirement shows just how great she was at what she did. The impact she has made on the community leaves big shoes to fill.
