Are you looking for a better business banking experience in Ocala? Partnering with a true community bank gives you the responsiveness, accessibility, and easier banking you’re looking for. For this blog, we sat down with Nick Blaser, Market President of North Central Florida, to learn more about the meaningful banking experience he and his team are building in Ocala.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your current role at Cogent.

I moved to Florida about 37 years ago, when I attended Jacksonville University and earned a degree that was focused on finance and accounting.  I had no idea at that time I would look back 32 years later and say I’ve been a banker for that long!  I moved to Ocala about 28 years ago and I just absolutely love it here!  My two adult daughters were born and raised here.  And this is where I met my beautiful wife Erin, who grew up just outside of Ocala, in a place called Weirsdale. 

I’ve spent most of my banking career as a Commercial Relationship Manager, managing the financial solution needs of business owners.  Last year, as the Market President of a large Regional Bank, I decided to leave and join Cogent Bank. 

Being a leader and giving back to the community is very important to me!  I currently serve on the Board of Directors of our Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership.  The most recent Census shows that 269 people every week are moving to the Ocala Metro and we are the #4 fastest rate of growth in the country!  I’m very proud of our organization and what we are doing for Ocala.  I’ve enjoyed serving in leadership roles on other non-profit organizations like the Public Education Foundation, United Way and Rotary to name a few.     

Outside of my profession and my community involvement, my passion is the sports of running and triathlon.  I have competed in running and in triathlons for more than 10 years, in many local, state, national and international competitions.  I ran in the Boston Marathon, and I am a 9-time Ironman finisher and will be competing in what will be my last one this month in Texas.  These sports have changed my life!  What I have learned from endurance racing has mapped over into my professional career.  How to face and overcome adversity.  How to remain patient and take one step at a time.  How to appreciate life and find happiness.  It brought me closer to my faith.  And now I bring those attributes to Cogent Bank and building a new Bank in our community. 

How do you approach commercial banking at Cogent?

Ultimately, all banks generally sell the same commodities and services.  So, it’s imperative that we differentiate ourselves from our competition.  At Cogent Bank, we believe banking is personal and requires high touch innovative services designed to make managing financial transactions easier.  We must build meaningful personal relationships with people (clients and community) and make it easy for them to do business with us by being responsive and accessible.  While that sounds simple, few banks do it well.  At Cogent Bank of North Central Florida, the reason we come to work every day is to inspire our clients by providing them with value in the form of financial solutions.  That’s our WHY, our HOW and our WHAT!  

If I showed a business owner or CFO a way to slow down their payables and speed up their receivables and therefore increasing the enterprise value of their business, would that inspire them to do business with me?  We must think differently and ask our business owners where they want to end up so we can help them get there!  We take a holistic approach to their banking so we can meet their financial goals. 

Since last May, Cogent Bank of North Central Florida has assembled a great team of banking experts to serve Ocala and Gainesville.  We have 8 team members with combined banking experience of 212 years, that are from these communities.  We have inspired so many clients already and we are super excited to announce that we were approved by the FDIC to have our new Banking Center located in downtown Ocala, right on the Square, and we anticipate it opening this Summer!  

Why should businesses partner with a community bank versus a larger financial institution? 

There are 30 Banks and Credit Unions in Marion County!  Marion County is a community, so which Banks are community banks?  Generally, we assume the smaller banks are what we call “community banks.”  However, do they all make banking easier?  Are bankers accessible and responsive?  Do they provide value in the form of financial solutions?  Do they inspire you to do business with them?  Not all the small banks do this well.  And then there are some Regional Banks that say they have a community bank model, which couldn’t be further from the truth!

We’re finding that many of our clients are coming to us because they aren’t happy with their current bank, big or small, for many of the reasons I have pointed out. It’s about creating a culture, a purpose, that builds trust in the communities you serve.  That’s what a community bank should be and that’s what Cogent Bank of North Central Florida is building in Ocala and Gainesville.     

What makes Cogent Bank, specifically, a good banking partner for businesses?

We offer all the financial solutions the larger banks have to offer but the difference is that we are responsive, highly accessible and can be a local strategic advisor to help business owners achieve their financial goals.  And we make it easier! 

Can you share any advice you might have for a business that is seeking a new relationship with a banking partner? 

We’re just super excited to build something of our own here – all of us, not just me. This isn’t my bank. We have an opportunity to change people’s lives financially.  We don’t want to be the best bank in North Central Florida.  We want to be the best bank FOR North Central Florida!

Meet our Ocala Banking Center team!

Nick and the rest of the Ocala team are dedicated to providing the personalized banking experience you deserve. Contact us today to learn more about Business Banking at Cogent and how we can help you move forward!

The information contained herein is for informational/educational purposes only.  The views and opinions expressed in this document may be those of the individuals and may not necessarily reflect those of Cogent Bancorp and its subsidiaries and affiliates, or the entities they may represent. Content contained herein may be used in connection with the advertising and/or marketing of products offered by Cogent Bank or Cogent Private Wealth. The material is not intended to provide or substitute for legal, tax, or financial advice or to indicate the availability or suitability of any Cogent Bank product or service. You should consult with a legal, financial, tax, or other appropriate professional(s) for your specific needs and/or objectives before making any decisions.