F & M Bank ’ s Chief Experience Officer , Charles Driest , talks about striking the right balance between digital innovation and a personal customer approach
F & M BANK
F & M Bank ’ s Chief Experience Officer , Charles Driest , talks about striking the right balance between digital innovation and a personal customer approach
A long and strange route – these are the words used by Charles Driest , Chief Experience Officer at Virginia-based Farmers & Merchants ( F & M ) Bank , when describing his career path in the banking industry . Driest cuts a picture of assuredness and poise , having been promoted from Director of Digital Banking to F & M Bank ’ s Chief Experience Officer in March 2023 .
In this newfound position , Driest ’ s responsibilities have grown substantially . Although he still helps to oversee digital enhancements at the bank – driving its online capabilities as he did when first joining F & M over a year ago – his remit now extends to deposit operations and marketing , helping to streamline the bank ’ s processes as it looks to integrate both on and off-line services and create an omnichannel customer experience .
A “ long and strange ” road He began his career at the Grocery Manufacturers Association ( GMA ) – now Consumer Brands Association – a big food lobbyist in which Driest “ worked on the government side of operations ”. The beginning of his “ long and strange route ” into banking , Driest joined the GMA after graduating in Government and Politics from George Mason University .
64 July 2023