Shining Stars

Beverly Newton

Branch Service Manager, Cottonwood

 

Through two bank mergers, Beverly Newton has been with the NB|AZ family for 36 years. It all began in 1987 when she was part of the team that helped open the Bank of Verde Valley in Cottonwood. Five years later, in 1992, the bank became part of Stockmen’s Bank, which eventually merged with NB|AZ in 2007.

Newton’s first job at the NB|AZ branch in Cottonwood was client service manager, managing branch operations and overseeing seven tellers. Today, she is the branch service manager, leading and supporting tellers and managing monthly, quarterly and annual compliance certifications.

At 68, having spent almost her entire adult life in banking, she has no plans to retire.

“I love what I do,” Newton says. “My mom, who’s still thriving at 92, always told me, ‘Don’t retire young, because you lose your work family.’ ”

Newton’s work family has a lot to offer, she says, pointing out that NB|AZ values its workforce. “National Bank of Arizona promotes employee development and encourages you to grow to your highest potential. The bank’s leadership knows that an exceptional company is built by exceptional people working together as a great team.”

Growing up in Pueblo, Colorado, Newtown moved to Prescott in the late ’70s to work for a small community bank. She has remained in Yavapai County since then. Her husband Tommy grew up in Sedona and they have a grown son, Brady.

Newtown says she’s grateful for her work family. “All of the NB|AZ employees I work with are very friendly and helpful,” she says. “The bank is committed to recognizing and creating fulfilling opportunities for outstanding employees within the organization, and we are rewarded for our contributions to the bank’s success. I am blessed to be part of this amazing team.”

Joshua Altares

Commercial Portfolio Manager, Phoenix

 

Opportunity is a hallmark of NB|AZ’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion commitment and Joshua Altares discovered that firsthand in the early summer of 2022. Two years before, he had relocated to the Valley from Houston, Texas, to work for a payment-processing company then connected with NB|AZ “through a focused job search for banking opportunities in Phoenix,” says Altares, whose educational and work experience is in finance.

Altares submitted his application for an available commercial portfolio manager on the commercial and industrial (C&I) team. “I believe my background and past experiences prepared me well to undertake many of the responsibilities that were required of this role,” he says.

The challenge, however, was “trying to make that connection and gaining visibility, because I considered myself a still-new transplant from another state. Luckily, I went through the process of meeting members of the C&I team and talking with them about what type of support they needed and how my experiences fit. I am very fortunate to have joined their team.”

In May 2023, during Asian-American and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month, NB|AZ asked Altares to share his story growing up as an Asian-American as part of a campaign to highlight team diversity. “I was born in the Philippines and moved to the States with my family when I was three.”

As a relatively new resident of the Phoenix area, Altares feels at home here and is happy to be part of NB|AZ. “Feeling the authenticity of the people who I’ve met so far has allowed me to gain confidence in my abilities,” he says. “Working at NB|AZ and supporting the C&I group has been a fantastic experience. Learning from such knowledgeable and experienced bankers who find solutions to assist the growth of local business has been a joy.”

Michele Comstock

Vice President, Branch Manager, Sierra Vista

 

A part of the NB|AZ team for 25 years, Michele Comstock proudly says she doesn’t want to work anywhere else. “What I love about the bank is the work/life balance,” says the vice president, branch manager of the Sierra Vista branch. “I’ve always liked the fact that no matter what department you talk to, everyone is very friendly and very helpful. I know I can always reach out and get assistance if I need it.”

Because she grew up in Salt Lake City and knew about Zions Bancorporation, the parent company of NB|AZ, she feels like she understands the company culture. “I’ve always felt at home here.”

Comstock has lived in southern Arizona since 1997, when her then-husband was assigned to Fort Huachuca as part of his military service. “A lot of people who know me might be surprised to learn I was a military spouse,” she says, “especially since I’ve been remarried to a cowboy for 20 years.”

Comstock worked at a bank geared to the military in Sierra Vista before joining NB|AZ in September 1998 as an operations specialist at the Sierra Vista branch. She worked in that capacity for five years and spent another six years as a personal banker. She then became the branch manager of the Sonoita branch, and was named a vice president, branch manager of the Sierra Vista branch in 2014.

Sierra Vista has “been a great place to raise four kids,” says Comstock, adding that her youngest is a junior in high school. “Because I was accustomed to moving around as a military spouse, it wasn’t my intention to stay here for this long. But I’m comfortable here. It’s a wonderful place to live.”

 

Photos: Mark Lipczynski (Altares), Michael Carter (Newton, Comstock)