Stellar Bank is committed to helping customers reach their financial goals. But more than that, we're committed to making a positive impact on our customers, employees, and the surrounding community. We believe that by fostering a supportive and engaging work environment for our team members, we can better serve our customers and contribute meaningfully to the communities we operate in.
For Demetrius Morgan, community development is more than just a job. It's his passion. We recently sat down with Demetrius to learn more about his background, his values, and his most impactful moments as a community development officer at Stellar Bank.
Q: Tell us about your role at Stellar Bank. What made you want to work for a community bank/in the banking industry?
I’m currently a Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Community Development Officer for Stellar Bank. I’ve been with the bank for four years now. I started out underwriting SBA loans, but I’ve always gravitated toward relationship banking and community service.
My journey started in personal banking, at a larger bank. It gave me exposure to the retail side of things and training opportunities (like underwriting). In this role I got exposed to different people from different backgrounds, different walks of life. And while I love people, I was looking to get away from the retail side and get into something that was a little bit more controlled. After doing research, I found community banking and saw that Stellar Bank (formerly Allegiance Bank) had employees of all experience levels doing things with the community.
At the time, Allegiance Bank was one of the main banks at the front of that (community involvement). And I wanted to be a part of that.
Q: How did you first get involved in community events?
Within my first few weeks at Stellar Bank, there was an opportunity to support the Houston Food Bank and relieve hunger in our community. As soon as that opportunity came up, I volunteered. I even brought my son with me. From then on, any time I saw we had an event I was able to attend, I signed up. It feels good to make a difference while networking with fellow colleagues.
Q: How has your background and experiences impacted your career choice and focus on community involvement?
During college, I got exposed to a lot of ways to serve the community, I was a part of an organization that was boots on the ground when it came to community involvement. I just enjoy doing stuff in the community, whether it be bagging food for food banks or passing out water supplies or helping with storm recovery. I also got a degree in Psychology, and I have learned that within sales, finance, and banking, there is a level of reading people and learning how to analyze different situations, and that psychology does translate over to banking.
On the back-end side of underwriting and what I'm doing now, people don't really like to ask for help. There's a way where you can provide dignity to people when you're talking with them and get information where it's more digestible than just force feeding it to them. We get the flexibility to do that when we're teaching things such as financial literacy, or just meeting people where they're at. That's the biggest piece of me translating that psychology piece over.
Q: What have been some of the most impactful moments that you’ve experienced in giving back to the community?
Stellar Bank is a proud supporter and partner of Houston’s Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation (CRC). Fifth Ward CRC brings together partners and financial resources to focus on the redevelopment of the 5th ward to establish a thriving corridor and create economic impact.
As our Community Development Officer, I recently collaborated with the Fifth Ward CRC to organize their annual Lyons Avenue Renaissance Festival. I also represented Stellar Bank’s table at the event—helping answer questions about financial literacy and small business. At the event, Kathy Payton, the president and CEO of Fifth Ward CRC, pulled me aside and told me that they wouldn’t have been able to pull off the event without us. We’re making a real difference in people’s lives. And hearing that feedback has been one of my most impactful moments to date.
Q: How do your personal values and commitments mirror the values and commitments of Stellar Bank?
I’m big on family. My brother and I are the first generation to graduate high school and college. I didn’t grow up with much of anything, so supporting these types of families and being a resource for underserved communities is very important to me.
Stellar Bank’s purpose aligns with my own personal values by empowering people and communities to thrive. Our community engagement gives us a unique understanding that helps identify opportunities for growth and improvement. And our financial education, programs, and contributions make a real difference in the lives of those around us. I’m proud of the work we’re doing.
Q: What advice do you have for others who may want to get involved in the community but are unsure where to start?
You can always figure out ways to get involved. If you're hungry for change and you don't see the change, then you should be that change.
Start by writing a list down. Think of your neighborhood, your church, who do I know? Who in my family is in a world where they can provide some impact? Who in my friend circle can provide some impact? Where did I go to school? Did I go to college? Who are some individuals from college that may be out here? If you're part of a sorority, fraternity, council, or community group, there are all kinds of ways to connect.
You can be that person to initiate that change.
