The Wave: Words from our Founder
11.16.2021
Stories that adhere to the “The Secrets of My Success” narrative are never in short supply. More telling and more important are the ones that speak to the reality that there are no secrets or shortcuts. Success requires hard work, commitment, intelligence, diligence, and a dedication to doing the right, rather than the expedient, thing.
For Bank of Guam, there were no “secrets” that led to success. That is best illustrated by a singular recognition bestowed on us more than 30 years ago.
On June 7, 1990, the Honorable Ben Garrido Blaz entered a proclamation into the record of the U.S. House of Representatives as a tribute to the Bank of Guam in general and founder Jesus Sablan Leon Guerrero in part to honor him and in part to ensure that his story would live on.
In part, it read, “I congratulate and salute Mr. Jesus Leon Guerrero and the Bank of Guam for their commitment and dedication to the people of Guam, and for their earnest and successful development of a modern and local bank…It is an American success story, and it is so because of the vision, dedication, and commitment of outstanding leaders such as Jesus Leon Guerrero, who started as a bank clerk and ended up being the chairman of the board.”
In 2022, Bank of Guam will celebrate its 50th anniversary. Its branch in San Francisco embarks on its 40th year by transitioning to a new name, TASI Bank, and a recommitment to serving its expanding customer base.
“We are the oldest new bank in town,” says TASI Bank division president Dave Joves. “We are dedicated to our customers and to our employees. Our growth over the last decade from $35 million in total assets to more than $435 million reflects the heritage instilled in us by Chairman Guerrero when he risked his financial well-being to create Bank of Guam because the people of Guam needed and deserved a “Bank of their own.”
As he wrote in 1998 in his book, “Jesus in Little America,” he was always optimistic about the Bank’s future.
He was prescient. “I predict that the Bank will continue to grow and continue to serve our people in the fine tradition and manner that have made it a great institution…One day we shall see branches in all big industrial areas of the world…”.
“We are the oldest new bank in town,” says TASI Bank division president Dave Joves. “We are dedicated to our customers and to our employees. Our growth over the last decade from $35 million in total assets to more than $435 million reflects the heritage instilled in us by Chairman Guerrero when he risked his financial well-being to create Bank of Guam because the people of Guam needed and deserved a “Bank of their own.”
As he wrote in 1998 in his book, “Jesus in Little America,” he was always optimistic about the Bank’s future.
He was prescient. “I predict that the Bank will continue to grow and continue to serve our people in the fine tradition and manner that have made it a great institution…One day we shall see branches in all big industrial areas of the world…”.
