A Leader with a Strong Sense of Community

Born and raised in Lancaster County, Curt Myers has been Chief Executive Officer of Fulton Financial Corporation since 2023, having started in the Management Training program in 1990 and working his way up. A leader who believes in giving back and asking his employees to do the same, Myers leads with an eye on how to improve the everyday lives of Philadelphians through sound financial decisions.

You are known as a leader with strong community focus. What are you most proud of as someone who cares deeply about Philadelphia and your customers?

I’m proud of our team’s consistent focus on our company’s purpose, which is to change lives for the better. Whether they’re helping a family buy their first home, advising a new business owner or leading financial literacy workshops, the work our team does each day helps to improve the lives of our neighbors. It’s very personal for us — at the bank and in the community.

Your focus on volunteer work and giving back to the community is admirable. I read that Fulton Bank employees put in 12,800 volunteer hours — equal to almost a year-and-a-half — during 2023. Where did that commitment to giving back and having your entire company do it too all start?

A commitment to the community is part of our history and culture. We recognize that the best way for us to thrive is to help our communities to thrive. Helping people make smart financial decisions and providing support for businesses to grow contributes to the overall economic strength of the community, and that’s good for everyone!

You lead through continuous learning and encourage others at Fulton to go outside their comfort zones. What does that mean to you? How have you done it?

We live in a dynamic world where the pace of change seems to always be accelerating. We foster a culture of curiosity and collaboration. Those strengths help us learn together, with a commitment to professional development, coaching and building strong business skills. One of my favorite questions is: What do you think?

I started in our Management Training program 34 years ago, and the company and a lot of strong leaders helped me learn the business. We have an obligation to develop our team, and we continue to focus on that. That Management Training program is still thriving today.

“When I drive around a community and see a thriving business that we helped finance, or pass the starter home that we helped a family to buy, that’s impact.”

What is the philosophy behind Fulton’s approach and how do you differentiate yourself from other financial institutions?

We like to say that Fulton Bank is big and small in all the right ways. What we mean is that over our 142-year history, we’ve developed into a large regional bank that has virtually any financial product, service or resource our customers may need. But at heart we’re community bankers, and we know that the best way to use all those products and services is to get to know each customer personally and work alongside them to find the best solutions. Again, it’s personal.

Six out of your 10 C-Suite executives are women. That’s remarkable and shows real commitment to leadership and equity and inclusion. How do you characterize what makes a great leader and why?

We have a remarkable team. Each team member brings significant knowledge and experience; they understand our culture and have different perspectives to add to our effective decision making. That is the value of a diverse team. We work together with positive energy and demonstrate ownership of our responsibilities, and this creates an environment where our leaders are both challenging the team to be their best and supporting them all at the same time.

What do you look for in a hire and what is the one thing someone can say or do that will automatically get them to the next round?

We want coworkers who have a strong desire for the team to succeed, and who demonstrate a commitment to making the people around them even better. When we interview potential new hires, the one thing you can show in that first round that gets you to the second is your heart – people know when you really care.

What do you do most days? What does your schedule look like? What do you think about when driving, walking, or allowing yourself to just think?

Most days, I’m busy meeting with employee teams, customers and people in our communities, learning about the work they’re doing, providing guidance, and seeing what I can do to help. Most of the time, I’m thinking about people — our team and our customers.

What is the biggest challenge you’re facing, either in the financial sector in general or at Fulton specifically, that you want to help meet or tackle?

One of our key areas of focus is operating with excellence. We have a complex operating environment. Hundreds of thousands of customers entrust us with millions of transactions. We are expected to perform flawlessly and safeguard our customers’ assets. We earn the trust of our customers daily through operating effectively, and that’s why we’re investing in the people, technology and processes to continue to earn this trust.

What is the biggest win you are proud of? What would you say is your homerun? What do you want your kids to know about your work at Fulton?

We make a difference. We make positive impact. Ultimately, the biggest win for bankers is when we’ve worked alongside a customer and helped them achieve a goal that they weren’t sure was possible. When I drive around a community and see a thriving business that we helped finance or pass the starter home that we helped a family to buy, that’s impact.

What do you want people to know about Fulton or you that they don’t know? Is there something that you feel is a misperception or blind spot?

I think sometimes people don’t always realize the many ways that a bank like Fulton can help them. We’re more than a place to get a loan or keep a checking account. For generations, we’ve helped families buy homes, save for their children’s education, and plan for retirement. We’ve helped entrepreneurs launch and grow businesses and can work with them on how to manage cash flow, process payments from customers and pay their vendors. If you have a challenge or a goal that involves your finances, talk to your banker. One of the most satisfying aspects of our work is when we find a solution to a problem that was keeping our customer up at night!

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be in your role someday — who is just starting out? How can they better equip themselves for leadership and success?

To be an effective leader and drive success over time, you need to be adaptable and flexible. You never know what situation is coming your way, but you will need to handle it. You can’t be built or skilled in just one type of situation. You will also need to engage and inspire a wide range of people, who are unique and need different leadership styles to help them be the best they can be. You need to flex and adapt to the people and situations that come your way for success over the long term.

Where do you want Fulton to be in 10 years? What do you want Fulton to be known for in a decade or over the coming years? What is your legacy?

Over the next decade, I hope to accelerate Fulton’s ability to achieve our purpose to change lives for the better. Fulton will be thriving because of the team we have and their development over time. The communities we serve will be thriving, as even more people have access to the resources to achieve their financial goals. I would consider it a success if, 10 years from now, our team can look back and realize that we achieved more than we ever thought possible.

What do you do with your “spare” time? Favorite sports team? What are you watching when you turn to sports on TV?

All of my spare time is spent with family and friends, traveling, watching sports, playing sports, cards and games. We seem to find a way to make most things into a “friendly” competition.

LUCY DANZIGER is a journalist, author and the former editor-in-chief of Self magazine, Women Sports & Fitness, and The Beet.

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