Kyle DeCicco, 33

Starting out his banking career as a credit analyst has helped Kyle DeCicco better serve his customers today. That’s because he understands what goes into underwriting a loan — and the bad situations that can arise from poor financial decisions.

“Knowing how these things can go south has made me a better salesperson,” he says. “And it makes me extremely conservative; I turn down way more loans than I approve.”

In working with clients, DeCicco is old-school. He would rather pick up the phone than type out an email or text. “To me, it’s the personal touch,” he says. “Taking the time to take somebody to lunch and ask them how their day is — that’s what gets you a repeat client. It’s not just taking care of somebody one time. Every one of my clients has my cellphone number.”