Leanne Antonio

President/CEO

Yakima Federal Savings and Loan Association

Number of employees you oversee: 130 employed by company with eight direct reports.

Brief background of your business:

Established in 1905, Yakima Federal Savings and Loan Association is a Washington state-chartered savings bank and continues to operate as a traditional thrift. We provide a safe place for community members to deposit their money and in turn provide residential mortgage loans and support housing in the area.

We have over $2 billion in assets and 10 locations ready to serve all residents of Benton, Franklin, Kittitas and Yakima counties.

How did you land your current role? How long have you been in it?

I started my Yakima Federal career as a teller in 1981.

Through the years I was given increasingly more responsibility and in March 2016 was promoted by the board president and CEO. I am only the eighth managing officer in the 117-year history of Yakima Federal and its first female CEO. 

Why should the Tri-Cities care about your industry?

The provision of financial services is important in everyday life and contributes to the financial health of the community.

Consumers rely on easy access to their money and the availability of financing for major purchases.

Community-based banks also contribute to the local economy by providing employment and paying taxes. We are a major sponsor of many community events and a contributor to community-based projects that improve the quality of life in our area.

What is one characteristic that you believe every leader should possess?

Humility.

Leaders typically possess skills and attributes that identify them as leaders. Once you are in a leadership role, I believe you need to be humble, remember where you came from and give credit to those who contribute to your success.  

What is the biggest challenge facing managers today?

Even though we seem to be moving beyond the Covid-19 pandemic, its impact will be felt for some time and will continue to challenge businesses in many ways.

Inflation, supply chain disruption and a variety of issues around people management will challenge us for the immediate future.

Businesses will need to be creative to attract and retain employees. Beyond the pandemic, keeping up with technological advances and cybersecurity need to be top of mind for business leaders.

If you had a magic wand, what would you change about your industry/field?

I would use my magic wand to level the playing field in financial services and convince leaders in state and national government to require credit unions to pay their fair share of taxes.

We have several major credit union competitors in our area that have a huge advantage through their tax-exempt status.

Yakima Federal pays millions of dollars in taxes every year while our credit union competitors pay zero.

What advice would you give someone going into a leadership position for the first time?

Remember where you came from. You cannot be successful alone and need to treat people with dignity and respect, whether they are a vendor, customer or employee.

Who are your role models or mentors?

My mother was an early role model.

She was a strong and independent woman. At Yakima Federal, I have learned a lot from past leaders including the two most recent CEOs who remain on our board: Peter Bansmer and Mike Gilmore.

How do you keep your employees motivated?

I believe that motivation comes from within.

We provide competitive wages, good working conditions and great benefits for our employees. As managers we can inspire employees toward self-motivation and should lead by example.

Beyond that, workers need to find the drive within themselves to be motivated to do their best work and find success in their role.

How did you decide to pursue the career that you are working in today? What was your first banking job?

My first banking job was a teller position at the Stadium Branch office of Yakima Federal over 41 years ago.

I enjoyed the accounting classes I took in high school and at Yakima Valley College and believed this knowledge would be beneficial with a career in banking.

How do you measure success in your workplace?

Workplace success comes in many forms.

Of course, we like to generate a healthy profit but we also find success in adhering to our company values and providing a superior experience to our customers and employees.

Hearing from loyal customers and seeing employees rise through the ranks and grow professionally adds to our success.

What do you consider your leadership style to be?

Collaborative. I believe it is important to consider a variety of perspectives and hear the ideas and opinions of others as major decisions are being made.

How do you balance work and family life?

I try to be fully present for both and attempt not to blur the lines between them. 

What do you like to do when you are not at work?

I enjoy spending time with friends and family. I exercise most every day, am always reading a book and like to get outdoors to walk, hike or spend time in the garden.

What’s your best time management strategy?

I am most productive in the morning, and I try to tackle whatever is most urgent and important before lunch. I prioritize what needs my attention and use calendar reminders to keep track of due dates. I have learned to be selective about what I volunteer for and to be comfortable occasionally saying no.

Best tip to relieve stress? 

Exercise. Stress is mostly a state of mind and I find that moving the body can provide relief.

What’s your favorite book?

I am always reading a book and my favorite changes from time to time.

One impactful book I recently read is “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontent.” I highly recommend this book to anyone open to learning more about racial divisions in American life.

Do you have a personal mantra, phrase or quote you like to use?

I try to live by the golden rule of “do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” and I often remind myself of something my mother used to tell me, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”