Thomas P. Zurla

The Honesdale National Bank, AVP, Area Manager

Tom Zurla is a native of Wilkes-Barre, but has been a resident of Scranton for the past four years. He graduated from Coughlin High School and attended Luzerne County Community College where he studied business management. He has spent nearly 27 years in banking, having first begun his career as a teller.

Early interest

His early interest in banking dates back to childhood, when he would accompany his mom and grandmother to the bank. “There was just something about the atmosphere of being in the bank. I had quite the collection of brochures and bank envelopes; everyone knew me! As I matured and decided to further my childhood interests, I was blessed to work with one of the best in the industry, Jack Casey. We worked together, for the better part of my career, beginning as a teller and ending with my being his assistant manager. He saw something in me and helped nurture my talents and refine my skills to be the banker I am today,” he said.

Current role

Tom said that, “No two days are ever the same. You never know who is going to come in and what impact you will have on them and their financial journeyfrom opening their first bank account, to helping them finance their first home, to helping them plan their retirement. It is a true honor that customers have so much trust in your suggestions that they take your advice. I have always said that the majority of what I do is education. It is up to me to determine the right fit for my customers.”

Knowing the role he plays in helping his customers reach their financial goals as well as seeing his team succeed in their careers, is what brings him the most satisfaction. “I like to pay it forward to the next generation of bankers. I was truly blessed to work with wonderful mentors at the beginning of my career and I hope that I am doing the same for those I get to work with now,” he said.

Leadership

As a leader, Tom said that he works extremely hard to make sure his team has all the tools they need to be successful. He commented, “I am not one to micro- manage, as I have never taken to that form of management myself. I prefer to act as a resource, helping my team think through various situations and offering guidance so that they are able to make an educated decision. When I see my colleagues doing a good job, it is important for me to recognize them. Watching them grow in their career, and knowing that I had a small part, is the best reward. When they succeed, I succeed. To gain the respect of your team, I find you must be able to walk in their shoes. I’ve held virtually every position in retail banking. I promised myself many years ago, upon receiving my first promotion, that I would never forget where I began. As a leader, you must be able to multi-task and pitch in wherever it is necessary. Good managers need to know every aspect of their position to be able to provide support whenever and wherever needed.”

History and Heritage

“I am happy to say that at HNB, the recent instability that we have seen in such larg er institutions has not come to affect what we do in our day-to-day lives. It is a testament to HNB and its reputation of being, first and foremost, a community bank. It is that reputation, combined with an outstanding leadership and management team, that has kept us in business for nearly 187 years,” he said. Having lived in different areas of the region, Thomas said, “I love the fact that we remember our heritage and where we came from, including keeping various ethnic holiday traditions. I also appreciate the preservation of both the railroad and coal mining histories, both of which have impacted so many of us.”

Personal:

Tom has been married for the past four years to his spouse who works in the medical field, specifically senior/personal care, specializing in dementia/Alzheimer’s Care. Their only children are the “four-legged type: Cali, Gus-Gus and Oakley.” Tom has a passion for musical theater. “I am a broadway baby at heart and love attending local productions, touring and Broadway productions. I have been to more than 60 shows in my life, each one giving me such unique and personal experiences. I am very involved with local churches and serve as an organist and soloist at various churches throughout the region for weddings, funerals and weekend services.“ Is acting in theater in his future? “And the Tony Award goes to….One is never too old to stop dreaming,” he laughed. H