When branch service manager Debbie Swider left work for the day at Zions Bank Draper on July 21, her fellow employees literally rolled out a red carpet for her. It was a special send-off for Swider who retired from the bank after 44 years. Branch relationship banker Edmara Lequia said that Swider will definitely be missed. “Debbie is a very competent professional,” she said. “But what really stands out is that she is a very kind person.” 

Swider was only 17 years old when she came to work in the booking and mail center at what was then known as Draper Bank. She then moved on to working the switchboard, followed by new accounts. Swider became a bookkeeping supervisor and then assistant branch manager over operations. When the old Draper Bank was acquired by Zions in 2001, she became the branch service manager, a position that she held for 23 years. 

She experienced seismic shifts in the way banking is done during her long career. “The biggest change has been online banking,” Swider said. “Clients have the ability to go online, check their balances, pay bills, transfer funds and so much more.” 

“Back in the ’80s and ’90s, everything was more manual,” she said. Swider recalled filing checks by hand and sending out paper bank statements and processed checks through the mail. “We’ve had to evolve with changes in society,” she said. “It’s a lot more secure because you don’t have all of that personal information sitting out there in your mailbox.” 

As the branch service manager, Swider was in charge of recruiting, coaching and counseling bank employees in addition to employee development. “I coached tellers over customer service issues that came up,” she said. 

Due to her seniority, Swider also addressed issues that came up with the physical building. “They referred to me as the branch ‘mom,’” she said with a laugh. 

Swider spoke of the importance of making sure bank clients felt valued and taken care of. She said that she will miss her clients and the friendly relationships she developed with them over the years most of all. “I love being able to solve their problems. They know I’m looking out for their best interest,” she added. 

She will also miss her colleagues. “Not just my coworkers, but employees I’ve been able to mentor,” Swider said. “Watching their careers grow, that is something I will always cherish.” 

Lequia said that she has been working with Swider for only one year but that she has inspired her. “You see the human being behind the professional,” she said. When it came to bank employees, “Debbie always emphasized individual respect, regardless of title,” Lequia added. 

Swider, who grew up in Draper when it was still mainly a farming community, credits her upbringing with her outlook on life. “It instilled some values, makes you respect what you have a little more,” she said. Before coming to work at the bank, Swider held jobs at the old Taco Time and the cookie factory. 

 Her retirement plans include spending more time with her family, especially her six grandchildren. She will also have more time to devote to her garden. “I love to have my vegetable garden,” she said. “I love making my own salsa.” 

She was overwhelmed to see so many well-wishers and colleagues from past years at her retirement party. “They did the coolest retirement party for me. It was overwhelming!” she said. “I have such gratitude. It was amazing!” λ