Maybe, but it could also be a thrift-and thrifts have their own role. There are just 10 thrifts in the state, ranging from extremely large to quite small, utilizing some three dozen branches and offices to serve communities from Las Cruces to Clovis, Santa Fe to Gallup. However, though it looks like a bank, sounds like a bank and offers the services of a bank, a thrift does operate under a different charter from a bank. Commercial banks have more of a business focus, whereas ours is more of a consumer and community type of institution.
Money is a commodity.
You distinguish yourself by the products and services you offer to the community. There will be a niche for the community-based institution that can be in close touch with the customers and yet offer technology and sophistication. Roswell's First Federal Bank, with locations in Alamogordo, Ruidoso, Albuquerque, Las Cruces and El Paso, ranks within the top five financial institutions in New Mexico in total loans. I've been in banking for 16 years and thrifts since 1995 and I see no difference. The money is the same.