Five Questions With: Paul J. Tavares

When The Washington Trust Co. opens its new branch in East Providence in the fall, there will be someone running the place who will be familiar to many: former R.I. General Treasurer Paul J. Tavares. He’s been hired as the branch manager, his first banking job since he ran for treasurer in 1997. Tavares, who well connected in the East Providence community, answered five questions about his new job.

PBN: I know you were general treasurer from 1998 to 2006. Does that make you a bit overqualified for the job as bank manager?
TAVARES:
You are never overqualified to do something you truly enjoy, for me this is returning to my roots, working with and helping folks in my community. If anything, age and various life experiences just enrich the opportunity.

PBN: What is your banking background? When was the last time you were directly involved in a bank?
TAVARES:
I started in banking 1970 as a teller and continued in the banking field, in various capacities, for the next 27 years. I left Bank Rhode Island, as a vice president, in 1997 to pursue my run for general treasurer.

PBN: What have you been doing since you left public office?
TAVARES:
For the last several years, I have served as the executive director of the East Providence Housing Authority.

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PBN: You’re an East Providence native and someone who has been involved in the city ever since. How important is that background is a situation where a bank is making its first foray into area? How do those personal connections come into play when managing a bank?
TAVARES:
Banking relationships are built on reputation, trust, confidence and convenience. The Washington Trust Co. has a very long history of being a sound financial institution; dedicated to the communities it serves. The bank’s new location on Taunton Avenue in East Providence will now make it convenient to the East Providence and East Bay communities. Selecting me, an East Providence native, to lead the new branch in the city is an important statement about the bank’s commitment to not only serve, but to become part of the East Providence community.

PBN: What kind of benchmarks have been set to determine whether the bank branch is a success, say a year from now?
TAVARES:
All businesses have specific financial measures to determine success. However, true success is determined by the level of customer satisfaction. That will be the benchmark to which we will be held.

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