Randy Dhindsa

Senior Vice President

Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Fresno

 What We Do:  Bank of America serves individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses, and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management, and other financial and risk management products and services. Business Banking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch serves companies with annual revenues between $5 million and $50 million. Nationally, Bank of America Merrill Lynch serves one out of every five companies in the Business Banking range.

Education:   Bachelor’s of Science in finance from Fresno State; currently studying for a Master of Business Administration at Western Governors University
 
Age:  33

Family:  Wife, Traci, and one son, Jackson. Also two mini-dachshunds, Odie and Brutus

---

How did you come to your position as senior vice president at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Randy?

I started my career at a Bank of America client contact center in Fresno, where I helped customers with their banking needs. From there, I moved into consumer lending and then into business lending. For several years I managed relationships with many companies before taking on my current role as a market manager in 2011.
 
What are your primary responsibilities there, Randy?

I manage a team that works every day to support the strategic objectives of Central Valley companies. We do that by delivering the full range of Bank of America’s global capabilities to businesses across the region. This includes everything from credit, cash management/FX, merchant services and equipment financing to personal financial management offered by our company’s consumer and wealth management teams.

When did you decide to make your career in this business, Randy?

I was always fascinated with finance and banking. My father — a banker himself — once told me that “money doesn’t grow on trees, but if you plant the knowledge and know how to take care of it, you will flourish.” I recall playing Monopoly as a child and always wanting to be the banker. I would try to acquire a lot of money, and then I would lend it to the other players.

How is your industry doing at the present time, Randy? How much has it suffered from the current economic conditions?

We’re always working to make every good loan we can. During the downturn, we along with many other banks saw loan demand fall, with some companies understandably adjusting their strategy and outlook. Fortunately, demand has improved recently, although it still remains below pre-recession levels. Beyond credit, we have seen more demand in recent months for cash management and global solutions as a way to improve efficiency, especially at local companies that do business outside the U.S.

What is the most rewarding part of your job, Randy? The most difficult?

Helping our clients achieve their financial goals is the most rewarding aspect of my job, especially when that helps a business thrive in our community. The most difficult part is saying “no” to a client, although I’ve found that also presents an opportunity to educate and help the client get to a position where we can help them.

Do you have a favorite quotation, Randy?  

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act but a habit.” –
Aristotle

What was your first job growing up, and what did you learn from it, Randy?

My first job was being the Chuck E. Cheese mascot at a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant in Fresno. Not only was it a lot of fun, but I learned a lot about customer service and how to interact with people.

What do you like to do in your spare time, Randy?
I love to cook Italian, Indian and French cuisine. I also like to travel, play golf and read –—mainly U.S. and presidential history. In fact, I have a mock-up of the Oval Office at my home, complete with historical collections.