On any given day, you’ll find Vice President of Retail, Kimberly Harmon, traveling from branch to branch to check-in with her staff, empowering her team, and chatting with her customers. Here’s how this down-to-earth executive stays grounded, keeps work meaningful, and looks out for her customers.

Describe what you do for Citizens Bank.

I oversee all of the branches and the branch managers report directly to me. It’s my job to make sure each branch is successful by ensuring my team is meeting their goals with the tools and resources they need to do their job.

How do you help your team meet their goals?

Part of my job is to spend time with all of our branches, so I travel a great deal. I’m there to mentor, coach, and answer questions. I make sure we’re doing business appropriately, that we are profitable, and that we have a community feel to everything we do.

What is the best part of your day?

I’ve been with Citizens Bank for 28 years, and the part I love most is that I still have regular contact with my customers from the beginning of my career. I also engage daily with my team, so to that end, I enjoy spending time at each of the branches. The people around me really keep me going each day! The pandemic was very hard; when I’m not working around people, I miss that engagement.

What’s one thing you wish people knew about the importance of a community bank?

The most important part of a community bank is its people. Citizens Bank provides all of the services a big bank can provide, but the difference is in service. For example, I have customers that text, call, and email me at all times of the day. You’re not going to have that kind of connection, service, and responsiveness at a big bank. I tell my customers, “you can go to a bigger bank, but you’re not going to have me, or people like me.”

What would your coworkers be surprised to learn about you?

I am very extroverted, so there’s not much they don’t know—except that I’m a star in my car when I sing, and the one artist I love singing along to is Meatloaf. I’m passionate about music but I can’t carry a tune. If I could have one gift, that would be the one I’d love.

Where’s your happy place?

Everybody knows the beach is my happy place. I go to Puerto Rico as often as possible.

What’s your passion?

I’m a passionate advocate for people with Autism and special needs. My husband and I have a blended family of five kids and our 19-year-old son, Caleb, is on the Autism spectrum. I’ve been an advocate his entire life and have been involved in many different organizations, like Morgan County Autism Foundation, League of Miracles, and others that cater to kids with Autism.