That checks can be ordered online?
Centinel Bank is the product of the personal vision of Eliu Romero, a fourth generation Taos County resident. Growing up in a family of subsistence farmers, he put himself through college and law school. On his return to Taos he applied at a local bank for a small loan to set up his law practice. He was denied the loan, and there and then decided to start his own bank so that he could help others avoid the same rejection.
In the mid 1960’s he made application to the FDIC for a commercial bank charter to be located in Taos. The application was denied. Several applications later FDIC accepted the application to approve deposit insurance, and he obtained a state charter to start Centinel Bank. He and Mrs. Romero convinced over 300 Taos county residents to assist them in their endeavor to capitalize the bank. The dream of a locally owned Hispanic bank was finally a reality, and it opened its doors on March 1, 1969. Today Centinel is one of very few minority-owned financial institutions in the United States.
Mr. Romero’s son, Martin, started working for Centinel in 1978 after having served an Albuquerque bank as a branch bank manager. In 1983 he assumed the position of President and CEO. Under his leadership the bank had spectacular growth and success. It has been recognized as a high performance organization and is listed in the top 400 of the largest Hispanic owned corporations in the United States. The Romero family individually and through their bank holding company has purchased all of the outstanding capital stock of the bank.
In 1999 Martin and Cheryl’s daughter, Rebeca, was appointed President and CEO, at the 30th annual Stockholder’s meeting of the bank. Rebeca, a Taos High School, Wellesley College and Pacific Coast Banking school graduate, became the youngest bank president in the US. She also joined the ranks of a few Hispanic women heading American corporations.
In 2003 Rebeca was promoted to Board Chair and CEO. The bank began a new chapter with the promotion of Angel Reyes to President. Angel’s story is one of success. Born and raised in Taos, Mr. Reyes graduated from New Mexico Military Institute as the ranking cadet and completed undergraduate studies at the Anderson’s Schools of Management, University of New Mexico. He received his graduate degree in banking from the University of Colorado, Graduate School of Banking.
The CBT story is one of family, youth, dedication, hard work and community support. The three generations of Romero’s and the management of the bank truly believe that the sky is the limit and that together they can strive to meet the financial services needs of their community and their people.
We are poised for the future- the future is a commitment to independence and a commitment to our employees and community for many years to come.
