Edouardo Thibault | The Advocate

Presented by APPI Energy

BY JJ SHEFFER

Edouardo Thibault is celebrating his twentieth year with Fulton Bank. During that time, he has seen the banking industry become more intentional in providing services to people of color, women, veterans, and other historically underserved groups.

“Fulton went out of their way to make that a part of our mission, what we call Fulton Forward,” he says. “We are actually developing certain products and engagements just for those communities. I’ve been in banking since 1992, and that’s something I had never seen prior to coming to work here.”

Thibault, in the role of VP, Commercial Banking Relationship Manager, helps small business clients understand the math problem of cash flow as they start out and expand their business. He is the first point of contact to help them find the solutions they need.

He fell into banking as a part-time teller when he needed a job that fit his school schedule. After graduation, he shifted to full-time to save up some money after being a student for so long. One year became two, and as the promotions piled up, he realized he was building a career.

“I realized this was my career, and I should just focus on making myself better so I can serve my customers better,” he says. Thirty-one years later, he says he wouldn’t give it up for anything.

“I have always been in customer-facing jobs,” he says. “I never went, nor did I have the desire, to go in the back office. I always wanted to have that customer contact, that face-to-face.”

That face time makes his work rewarding. He has seen clients start out and witnessed their trajectory as their business grew and they experienced success.

“That’s what makes me get up in the mornings. The next challenge is trying to help someone else.”

He also finds fulfillment in community service. He served on the board of the Red Cross, assisting with the annual Heroes Breakfast, and as treasurer for the York County Literacy Council, an organization that facilitates adult literacy and English as a Second Language (ESL) programs.

“I was born in Haiti and came to the U.S. when I was 16,” he says. “I had to take English as a Second Language classes in high school when I got here, so it made sense for me to be part of that mission.”

He remains connected to the organization, continuing to serve on its finance committee. He has served on other boards and committees, most recently getting involved with Habitat for Humanity when they had a candidate from Haiti who needed help with Creole translation. He agreed to help translate, then mentored her through the process, and eventually got to see her move with her six children into their new home a few months ago.

Thibault appreciates these opportunities – both professionally and with his community involvement – to do work and see the results firsthand.

Though he says there will always be a few people who dismiss you based on your skin color or national origin, he doesn’t worry about the few that still carry prejudice.

“York’s been good to me and my family,” he says. “This is a great place to raise your kids. It’s been very inviting…the community I live in is wonderful.”