The Human Element: Teamwork and Loyalty are the Pillars That Raise Annette King High
Annette King, First Security Bank senior vice president, marketing holds people at the heart of what she does. Whether she is marketing First Security, working with her teammates or helping to build a company culture, it is all human-centric.
King was born and raised in Newport in northeast Arkansas. She attended nearby Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, graduating with a degree in journalism with an emphasis in public relations in 1993. From 1996 to 1998, she also attended the American Bankers Association’s Bank Marketing School.
“I chose to study public relations after watching an Arkansas Educational Television Network special on the role that marketing, public relations and advertising had within a company,” King said. “Before that special, I didn’t really know a career in the field was possible. I was immediately intrigued and knew that it was the career for me.
“The idea of being able to build relationships with the public to create a positive image for a company really intrigued me. When it comes down to the nitty-gritty, a customer’s perception of the business is all that matters. If the image is positive, they will consider buying from you. I am just very fortunate to be able to work for a great company led by great people. That makes the marketing team’s job easy.”
King described the beginning of her career at First Security as “pure luck.” In 1994, she traveled to Searcy, where First Security is headquartered, on a search for job opportunities. She walked in and asked if the company was looking for someone for marketing and indeed they were; the bank was going through a period of strategic growth and needed new marketing employees to support it. She was invited in to speak to Reynie Rutledge, chairman of First Security Bank, who then hired her.
“I will be forever grateful that Reynie Rutledge took a chance on me – a young woman, straight out of college but eager, determined and willing to learn the world of banking,” said King.
Her current position within the company testifies that the chance Rutledge took paid off. King manages a dizzying array of responsibilities including, but not limited to, developing the First Security brand, advertising, community relations, marketing strategy, employee engagement and culture development. With nearly three decades at First Security and two years in her current role, King has had a long time to influence and direct the bank’s brand. But she is not one to brag about her own abilities and attributed her rise through the company to a deep-seated loyalty and dedication to teamwork.
“Of the most important qualities for working in marketing, without a doubt, is a true belief in your company,” King said. “It’s looking beyond what you market or sell to see how you can impact others’ lives for the good through your products and services. Equally important is the ability to collaborate, to work as a team. Other important skills needed to be successful in marketing are excellent communication skills, being both creative and analytical, the ability to problem-solve, and being detail-oriented, so you can manage multiple projects at the same time.
“I bleed teal,” said King, referring to the company’s trademark color scheme. “My longevity with the company has uniquely positioned me as a valued, trusted and influential employee due to knowledge gained by my willingness to take on tasks outside of the traditional marketing role.”
King’s loyalty to the bank is deeply rooted in people, and she is quick to praise fellow employees who collaborate to advance the company and serve the customer
“First Security is a family-owned business, and they treat all the employees like family,” she said. “They’ve always been there to support me personally and professionally, and whenever you have such great support from the leadership and ownership of a company, you want to stay.
“I would not be in the position I am without it always being a team effort. I am most proud of our whole marketing team for moving ‘Bank Better’ from just something you put on advertising to becoming a true culture among our entire company.”
Bank Better, the company’s slogan is emblematic of First Security’s commitment to continual improvement, working every day to serve the customer in ways that are more innovative, secure and convenient than ever.
“Everything we do is centered around Bank Better; it is our promise to our customers and something we don’t take lightly. We are always not only striving to deliver on this promise, but also to become better for our customers and each other. This makes me happy to be on the First Security team.”
Aside from her duties in marketing, instilling Bank Better into the company culture is a significant part of King’s role. Various internal programs, such as the culture club, seek to promote a family atmosphere, by bringing together employees for holiday parties, picnics, and other special events.
Better Bank also encourages volunteerism among First Security employees to help give back to their respective communities. King exemplifies this through her work assisting NWA Gives. The nonprofit, established in 2018, highlights and raises money for nonprofits and government organizations such as libraries from across the region. Over its lifetime, NWA Gives has raised nearly $2.8 million, and First Security has been a close partner ever since its inception. Currently, First Security Assistant Vice President Mark Carter serves as vice chairman of NWA Gives’ board of directors.
“First Security is a sponsor of NWA Gives,” said King. “They came to us to start the program about four years ago, and we always look for opportunities to not just support an organization, but to be involved in it. So where I became more involved is more of lending my expertise in marketing and distribution of news releases and helping to get NWA Gives on the map for nonprofits.”
In the end, King has one piece of advice that runs through everything else.
“I would just say that everything is about teamwork and collaborating with those that are on your team in order to have everybody succeed,” she said. “That’s the one thing I want to make sure comes across here, that it is a team effort, and the best thing that we can do is to serve our customers, serve them well, and live out our promise of Bank Better.”
